Gorkha group threatens indefinite Darjeeling shutdown

SILIGURI - The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Thursday threatened to call an indefinite shutdown in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling district from June 19 if the police did not stop harassing its frontal organisation, Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP).

The GJM, agitating for creation of a separate Gorkhaland state out of Darjeeling and parts of Jalpaiguri districts, has given an ultimatum to the state government that its demands, including transfer of Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) K.L. Tamta and Kurseong sub-divisional police officer Rakesh Sinha, should be fulfilled by 6 p.m. Friday.

“We also demand that the Indian Reserve Battalion and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) stop harassing innocent people,” GJM assistant general secretary Benoy Tamang said.

Following a complaint, the police have asked the GLP - a virtual police force raised by the Bimal Gurung led GJM leadership - to vacate several offices of the hill development body, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).

The GJM is also peeved with the administration, particularly Tamta, for the arrest of its men for their alleged involvement in the murder of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) chief Madan Tamang.