Forty eight hours after their call for an indefinite bandh, the Gorkha Janmukti Manch on Wednesday announced a 60-hour relaxation to give passage to tourists who were stranded in Darjeeling.GJM president Bimal Gurung, who had called the bandh after the police and CPI(M) cadres assaulted his supporters during a protest in Siliguri, said tourists were “guests” and his party’s agitation would follow the non-violent path towards its goal for a separate state in Gorkhaland. “We are not targeting the tourists here,” Gurung told The Indian Express. “Those who are still stranded in Darjeeling, Dooars, Kalimpong and other areas are being treated as guests. We will help them get 50 per cent discount in hotels, apart from helping them financially if they have spent their money. For those who want to leave the hills, we will arrange for vehicles,” he said. While the Darjeeling hills remained peaceful, group clashes were reported from Malbazar and Oldabari in the Dooars. Around 3.30pm, Bengalis clashed with Nepali GJM supporters at Malbazar when GJM activists tried to enforce the bandh. A petrol pump was ransacked and around six people were injured. A huge contingent of police was rushed to the area. At nearby Oldabari, GJM vehicles were burnt down by anti-bandh supporters. Meanwhile, the state government asked the Centre for additional six companies of CRPF and rushed them to Siliguri. According to police sources, a decision on CRPF’s deployment in and around Darjeeling is awaited. The GJM on its part faxed memorandums to PM Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, asking them to stop sending paramilitary forces, as this would heighten tension in the area. “This is our final agitation for a separate state. So far, our supporters have engaged in peaceful agitations but the CPI(M) is provoking them,” said Gurung. He said deployment of the CRPF is a useless exercise. “It will only add to the tension,” he said. Darjeeling and adjacent areas remained shut down for the third consecutive day because of the strike. Road link to Sikkim was cut off as GJM supporters blocked NH-31. KL Tamta, Inspector General Of Police of north Bengal said GJM supporters are not allowing government vehicles to ply in Darjeeling and surrounding areas. “There was a rail blockade by GJM supporters in the morning but was cleared soon after,” Tamta said.
