Normal life paralysed in Darjeeling;only talk to Centre: GJM

Normal life was paralysed as an indefinite bandh began today in Darjeeling to demand a Gorkhaland state, with a panchayat office being burnt down as GJM President Bimal Gurung said his party would talk only to the Centre and it was 'useless' to talk to the West Bengal government.

All shops, markets, schools, colleges, government and private offices, banks, post offices remained closed in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in the district with the shut down beginning at 6:00 am.

GJM workers were on the roads in the hills and were seen checking vehicles with emergency stickers on them. All other transport was off the roads.

One company of the CRPF, including women personnel, were on patrol on the streets, official sources said.

"The UPA government has announced creation of Telegana overruling opposition from the West Bengal government. Why should not they do it in the case of creating a separate Gorkhaland?" the GJM president asked.

Stating that Gorkhas had sacrificed themselves for the country and that Gorkhaland should be conceded, he said "There is no use talking to the West Bengal government as it cannot do anything in this regard."

Asked whether the state government would take stringent measures in Darjeeling following violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who returned to Kolakata from Mumbai, told reporters "Already firm decisions have been taken."

The panchayat office at Bijanbari was burnt down in the morning, District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan said.