Darjeeling hills fear counter-bandh

Darjeeling/Siliguri (West Bengal), Jan 15 (IBNS) Life continued to affect in the hills of Darjeeling for fourth day on Saturday after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's first phase of the 27-day shutdown ends at sun down with people looking at an opportunity to buy essentials before next phase begins on Jan 18.

Alarmed by a threat of a counter bandh in the plains, the GJM demanding separate statehood by dividing West Bengal has requested the Centre to ban the Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee for attempting to impose an “economic blockade” on the hills.

The BOBBBC, a new outfit launched to protest any move to divide Bengal, called a 48-hour bandh in the plains of Siliguri from Jan 16 to counter the hills bandh.

Inspector-general of police (north Bengal) Ranvir Kumar said he had asked his officers at Siliguri to have discussion with BOBBBC and refrain from any bandh in the plains.

Siliguri is the only lifeline for the landlocked hills of Darjeeling and neighbouring Sikkim state as all rations and essentials are imported from the plains about, 80 kms south of Darjeeling town.

Sikkim's lifeline 31A, passes through Kalimpong sub-division, however kept open following directive by the Supreme Court. The para-military forces have been guarding the 120 kms roads connecting between Siliguri and Gangtok.

The BOBBBC strategists say the GJM's "tactical" 27-day phase-wise bandh in the hills would be frustrated once they (BOBBBC) shut the plains during intervals.

The Siliguri-based BOBBBC called 48-hour general strike as an “economic blockade” on Jan 16 and 17, the days when the GJM relaxes its ongoing 27-day general strike.

Meanwhile, rations in the households were diminishing fast, especially fuel like kerosene, diesel, petrol and cooking gas owing to massive use to beat the freezing cold.

There is a growing resentments among the reseidents, but no body dares to come out openly in the fear of being singled out by the GJM supporters, the opposition alleges.

GJM president Bimal Gurung said they might continue with the bandh if the plains areas shut on Jan 16 and 17. Accroding to GJM the bandh would start again from Jan 18 for eight days.

The political observers said the Centre and state must intervene to stop the bandh or else the whole system of life will collapse.

The Darjeeling administration urged all political parties including the GJM to refrain from calling bandh as life of millions of innocent is affected in the region.

West Bengal Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) S.K. Purakayastha said in Kolkata that the state has requested the Union Home ministry to dispatch six companies of central forces.