Massive rallies, sporadic violence in Darjeeling hills, Dooars strike partial

Security forces men guard as GJM supporters stage a protest rally in Darjeeling PicAFPMassive protests in Darjeeling and sporadic incidents of violence in Kalimpong and Kurseong marked the GJMcalled black day in the north Bengal hills on Sunday while its 12hour strike in Dooars foothills covering parts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts received lukewarm response However there were no reports of fresh clashes between the agitators and the security forces in DarjeelingThousands of protestors took out rallies on the streets of Darjeeling amid tight security including by army patrols to mark the Gorkha Janamukti Morchas protest against alleged killing of its three activists in police firing and also pressing the demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland Led by the GJM activists protestors carried the coffins of the three activists allegedly shot dead by security personnel in Darjeelings Singmari during clashes on SaturdayHolding aloft the tricolour GJM youth members led the rally from Chawk Bazar the famous lower market area on the Hill cart Road in Darjeeling passionately shouting proGorkhaland slogans Shouts of Police go back and GorkhalandGorkhaland reverberated through the picturesque hills as some Gorkha activists claimed that the protest has shifted from the political to the commoners movement in the hillsThere are more than 15000 people in the rally today This is not just GJM People of the hills have come together to demand separate Gorkhaland Lets see how far we can go a young woman protestor told a TV channel Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi told IANS that the rally was by and large peaceful There were no instances of violence in Darjeeling todayHe also rebuffed GJMs claims of gathering more than 15000 people putting the attendance somewhere around 2000 The rally was preceded by a silent march of the civilians on Sunday morning demanding peace to be restored in the hills Sporadic violence was reported from elsewhereGJM supporters allegedly vandalised two cars in Kurseong and torched three panchayat offices in the neighbouring Kalimpong district while a prominent library in Kalimpong town went ablaze with the administration blaming GJMbacked goons for it Terming the situation very very volatile GJM leader Amar Singh Rai claimed that a separate state of Gorkhaland is the biggest priority for them and rebuffed any possibility of discussions with the Bengal governmentWe will seek a discussion with the Centre But only on one agenda a separate state of Gorkhaland he added GJM activists also blocked roads and staged demonstrations at many places in the Dooars foothills covering parts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts in support as the agitation in the hills spilled onto the plainsThey blocked the road near Dalsingpara tea estate in Jaigaon choking the only road connecting India and Bhutan However unlike the hills the GJMcalled strike only managed to achieve partial success as most of the shops stayed open in prominent towns like Jalpaiguri Malbazar Dhupguri and Nagrakata and public transport plied as usualAccording to the North Bengal State Transport Corporation NBSTC buses from Jalpaiguri to various places in Dooars and Cooch Behar district ran in sufficient numbers However the effect of the strike was better felt at the regions close to Bhutan border that boasts a higher amount of Nepali population The gateway to Bhutan at Chamurti was kept closed by the Bhutan government to avoid any possible scufflesThe GJM announced an indefinite general strike from last Monday in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and the Dooars to oppose the governments purported decision to make study of Bengali language compulsory in staterun schools despite the government clarification this would not be applicable in this region and to press for a separate state of Gorkhaland