Tension in Darjeeling spills over to foothills

TENSION RISES: Police cane-charged the protestors and lobbed teargas shells to control them.

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Siliguri: Darjeeling and Sikkim are cut off for the third straight day, due to the protests in favour of Gorkhaland that has left many tourists still stranded. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM) has now agreed to take part in talks with the West Bengal government.

On Thursday, GJM supporters and those who opposed to their demand for a breakaway state of Gorkhaland, clashed in the North Bengal town of Siliguri.

The day began with a complete shutdown in Siliguri in response to a 48-hour bandh against the Gorkha demand. Police cane-charged the protestors and lobbed teargas shells to control them injuring at least five people.

The Siliguri bandh was called to prevent the replenishment of supplies during the 60-hour relaxation of the indefinite bandh in the hills. The sharp ethnic divide that has now surfaced has left Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee worried.

"I appeal to the parties and all concerned in Siliguri town and its neighbourhood to maintain peace and harmony. I ask them not to indulge in any violence. That's the most important need of this hour," says Bhattacharjee.

Twenty two battalions of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Siliguri to maintain law and order. Section 144 has been imposed in parts of Siliguri and in adjacent Dooars.

The government has called an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter. But with no representation of the rebel Gorkhas at that meeting, an early solution looks unlikely.