Darjeeling shutdown evokes partial response, over 350 held

Darjeeling, Sep 28 (AZINS) Educational institutions remained closed, a section of shops and markets remained shut, and vehicular traffic operated in lesser numbers on Wednesday as a 12-hour shutdown called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in West Bengal's Darjeeling hills evoked a partial response.

Over 350 people were arrested for trying to enforce the shutdown forcibly and indulging in violence. They were later released on personal recognizance (PR) bond. Two-three vehicles were damaged by the shutdown supporters, a police officer said.

But with the Mamata Banerjee-led state government opposing the shutdown and threatening its employees with stringent action if they failed to turn up, attendance in government offices touched 97 per cent.

The GJM called the shutdown to protest against Banerjee's recent statement that Rs 4,000 crore had been allotted to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) -- the hill governing body run by the GJM -- over four-and-a-half years.

"Overall, the situation was peaceful. Final attendance is around 97 per cent in District administration offices, vehicles are plying and all roads are open," claimed Darjeeling district magistrate Anurag Srivastav.

The famed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ran the toy trains and over 95 per cent ration shops remained open. Some shops are open in markets and no forceful enforcement of shutdown has been allowed," said Srivastav.

As the day began, most of the shops, markets and tea gardens remained closed, but some of them opened as the day wore on, mainly in Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions. The shutdown had a bigger impact in the Darjeeling sub-division.

Tourist vehicles with police escorts plied from Siliguri to the hills, though private vehicles were seen in smaller numbers than usual.

Schools and colleges remained closed.

Three state cabinet ministers -- Gautam Deb, Rabindranath Ghosh and James Kujur -- were present in Kalimpong, Kurseong and Darjeeling sub-divisions, respectively, to foil the shutdown.

"This is the first time that a political party is inspiring people to resist Bandh. We are trying to drive away the fear psychosis that people in the hills were living with," said Gautam Deb, who led an anti-shutdown rally in Kalimpong.

"We are committed to drive away the environment of terror and bring back normalcy to the hills. People are with us. Vandalism will not be tolerated," Deb said.