Darjeeling bandh peaceful, Didi sends strong warning
UNREST IN HILLS CM says law will take its course; GJM chief claims terror politics at play
Apart from setting an under-construction ITI building on fire at Mungpoo, the 12-hour bandh in Darjeeling hills called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Friday passed off peacefully.
Incidentally, police did not arrest any GJM supporter though they set ablaze three vehicles, a traffic outpost, a government bus and injured dozens of policemen on Thursday when the situation went beyond the control of the administration that had to seek the help of the army.
Though there was peace everywhere in the hills, Mirik was quite tense during the day. The police managed to control a situation where GJM and Trinamool supporters nearly got involved in a clash.
The bandh called against Thursday’s police action on the GJM supporters, paralysed normal life as thousands of tourists remained stranded. Many of them were taken down to Siliguri by the district administration that arranged free buses. The government also arranged for special buses between Siliguri and Kolkata to ferry stranded tourists.
The Army on Friday deployed four additional columns in the Hills as precautionary measure. Two of them were sent to Kalimpong and one was stationed at Kurseong although there was no violence in these two towns.
Three companies of the CRPF were also sent to Darjeeling.
Despite the calm on the streets, there was a war of words between the chief minister and GJM president Bimal Gurung. “The law will take its own course, we want tourists to come to the hills and ensure that peace is maintained in the hills,” said the chief minister, who alleged that GJM was trying to divert the attention of the people from their non-performance in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the semi-autonomous body that runs the hills.
A team of six officers, who are supposed to conduct special audit of GTA also reached Darjeeling and started their work.
“This (the violence) is just to turn the attention of people from the real issues. Whenever elections come after five years, they start flexing muscles,” Banerjee said on Friday. She also claimed that GJM is rapidly losing ground, and in a desperate move, they are fomenting trouble.
“The state is indulging in terror politics. But they cannot crush our political movement,” said Gurung.
On Friday, the state government took control of Gorkha Rangamancha that houses 12 to 13 offices of the GTA. She said “a government office building cannot be allowed to carry out political activities.” “Why were the bombs and the arms entered Bhanu Bhawan (Gorkha Rangamancha),” the CM questioned.
Banerjee, who is in the town to oversee the development, on Friday announced that there is limit to tolerate and no one crossing the limit would be spared. She said that the state government would not tolerate any separatist movement and act of vandalism.