GJM accuses central troopers of excesses

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Saturday accused central paramilitary troopers of committing "excesses", even as normal life remained paralysed in northern West Bengal's Darjeeling hills following an indefinite protest called to press for release of party activists.

Shops, markets, banks, post offices, educational institutions and central and state government offices remained closed, and vehicles kept off the roads in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong - on day four of the 'Ghar Bahira Janta (people in the streets)' movement launched by the GJM, officials said.

With 724 GJM leaders and workers taken into custody with the state government cracking down on the movement for formation of a state of Gorkhaland, the GJM attacked the central troopers.

"The paramilitary forces in the hills are using excessive force to enter people's house during raids and also randomly searching every part of the house.

"Some people have also complained that many things have been found missing after these raids," GJM president Bimal Gurung said in a Facebook post.