Party cadre in Darjeeling attempts self-immolation

GJM supporters arrested for blocking NH 31A

Ten Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters were today arrested for blocking National Highway 31A with the police initiating six cases in total even as an agitator attempted self-immolation on the first day of the 72-hour shutdown.

GJM picketers blocked NH 31A, the arterial link for Sikkim, near Rambhi. At Kirney near Melli in Kalimpong subdivision, picketers burnt a car and a motorcycle an hour before 6 am, the time from when the bandh was to commence.

While 10 GJM supporters were arrested for blocking the highway, the culprits behind the torching incidents have not been identified yet. “We have arrested 10 GJM supporters for blocking the highway, which is against a Supreme Court ruling that says the road must be kept unobstructed at all times. We have also started six cases in connection with various incidents in Kalimpong, Mirik, Sukhia and Darjeeling sadar,” said Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal while briefing the press this evening.

The arrested were produced before court and have been sent to
judicial custody. Meanwhile, an army vehicle was also vandalised at Damber Chowk in Kalimpong, but no arrests have been made yet, said the police.

The GJM leadership has distanced itself from the arson and vandalism incidents. “Our supporters had nothing to do with burning of vehicles as our agitation is democratic. It is the handiwork of some anti-social elements to tarnish our party’s image,” said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri.

The SP’s vehicle was also stopped by some GJM activists at Chowk Bazaar and was allowed to pass after the officer spoke to
some senior leaders present at the spot.  In the meantime, a GJM supporter in Darjeeling tried to set himself ablaze by pouring kerosene oil, but was rescued by onlookers and whisked away to an undisclosed location.

The Darjeeling DM was in his chamber throughout the day but attendance in government offices was negligible. GJM picketers were seen manning government offices and streets right across town.

All business establishments and markets had downed their shutters, while all vehicular services, barring police escort vehicles for stranded tourists, vanished from the streets across all areas in the three sub-divisions.

Further, most of the 87 tea gardens in the Hills were forced to suspend work. However, sources said some workers belonging to opposition parties did report to work in a couple of gardens. The bandh was also enforced in the foothills although the Terai and Dooars regions remained out of the strike’s radar.

The Darjeeling police said the state government has sent a platoon
each of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and state lady force and they are due to arrive on Tuesday morning. This is in addition to the 14 platoons of the RAF and IRB already deployed.(EOI)