Govt units set ablaze in hills

Suspected GJM men burn down a health centre, electricity office and panchayat building

The unrest that spread in Darjeeling continued throughout Thursday night with suspected Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters setting fire to government establishments such as hydel projects and health centres.

Well after midnight, miscreants set fire to a primary health centre run by the state government-owned Ramam hydel project at Lodhama, 70 km from Darjeeling. An electricity supply office at the same spot was set ablaze. Both the establishments were completely gutted. The panchayat building at Mirik, where the TMC, won civic polls last month, was also set fire to.

Stray incidents of violence were reported from Darjeeling and six suspected GJM supporters were detained on Friday - the second day of the shutdown called by the outfit.

The indefinite bandh called in the hills by the GJM continued with roads remaining empty and shops and business establishments closed. Throughout Thursday, agitators vandalised and set ablaze government buildings and vehicles.

The flare-up followed a police raid at a GJM office in Darjeeling during which ed arms, explosives and night-vision equipment were seized.

Normal life in the hills was affected on Friday, with schools, markets and ATMs remaining closed. An examination could not be held at an IGNOU centre in view of the bandh, he said.

Tourists were most affected as hotels, restaurants and eateries remained shut, and there were few buses to come down to Siliguri in the plains. “We are waiting for a bus since 5.30am but not a single bus is available to take us to Siliguri,” said Aninda Bhaduri, a tourist.

A senior government official, said, “We will not allow anybody to hamper the law and order situation in the hills and law will take its own course. If anybody is found trying to break the law, he/she will face action and the administration will handle the situation in a very tough manner.”