Terai Dooars: Arson on second day of bandh, shutdown relaxed for 2 days

Jalpaiguri/Darjeeling (WB), Apr 24 (PTI): Fresh arson on Tuesday broke out in the Terai and Dooars areas in the plains in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts as the indefinite bandh, which entered the second day, was 'relaxed' for two days.

 Two cars were set on fire at Odlabari in Mal block and another car and scooter at Bagrakote near Siliguri during a clash between pro and anti bandh supporters, police sources said.

The police station at Jaigaon was also gheraoed by bandh supporters, they said.

The sources said that 100 persons were detained at Jaigaon for disturbing peace and for the gherao.

 The indefinite bandh has been called by Terai Dooars Coordination Committee backed by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the John Barla-led faction of the Adivasi Vikash Parishad.

The shutdown was to demand inclusion of Gorkha-dominated mouzas from the Terai and Dooars under the Gorkha Territorial Administration, the new hill council in Darjeeling, set up after a tripartite agreement between the Centre, the West Bengal government and the GJM.

The bandh would be 'relaxed' for two days from Wednesday, Barla said after a meeting of the Coordination Committee at Jaigaon where GJM president Bimal Gurung was present.

“If the government does not give us permission to hold public meetings, the indefinite bandh will resume from April 27,” Barla said.

With the GJM not given permission to hold a meeting at Nagrakata on Sunday, its general secretary Roshan Giri warned that should the administration continue to act in this way, his party could 'reject' the GTA in future.

Earlier on April 22, the GJM had decided to boycott meetings of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and North Bengal Development minister Goutam Deb in protest against the state government's decision not to give permission to hold the meeting at Nagrakata.

The Barla faction of the ABAVP supported the GJM and wanted inclusion of Gorkha-dominated areas in the Dooars and Terai in the plains in the GTA.

 The chief minister had said that a decision on inclusion of Gorkha-dominated areas in the Dooars and Terai would be according to provisions in the GTA agreement and the recommendation of the high power committee set up by the state government.

Meanwhile, tourists were leaving the Darjeeling hills fearing another round of bandh in the hills. No vehicle was on the road from Darjeeling and Kurseong to Siliguri, officials said.