Terai-Dooars indefinite bandh enters second day

The indefinite bandh has been called by Terai Dooars Coordination Committee backed by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the John Barla-led faction of Adivasi Bikash Parishad demanding inclusion of several mouzas in the proposed Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) from Terai and Dooars regions of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts

Official sources said SSB personnel were deployed at Banarhat area and Section 144 Cr PC was imposed since 8 p m last night.

The district administration has asked for deployment of more force to maintain order in the area, which witnessed arson yesterday at Banarhat and Chamurchi as bandh supporters set shops and vehicles on fire.

Meanwhile, the bandh withdrawn from 10 pm to 5 am today along NH 55 connecting Terai-Dooars to Sikkim and NH 31 connecting Assam was reimposed at 6 am today.

Two police stations were gheraoed since morning by pro and anti-bandh supporters, while life was hit at Kalchini, Jaigaon and Banrhat areas with shops closed and vehicles remaining off the roads.

In the rest of the places in Terai-Dooars only private vehicles did not ply. Tea gardens functioned and railway services were normal, official sources said.

IG, North Bengal said Sanjay Singh said 70 people were arrested from Jaigaon for disturbing peace.

Police said a truck was damaged by bandh supporters at Banarhat area.

Official sources said Jaigaon police station has been gheraoed by a large number of bandh supporters demanding inclusion of Terai-Dooars in the proposed GTA and that they be allowed to hold public meetings in the region.

Another gherao is on at Banarhat police station by locals and businessmen demanding the arrest of Barla for yesterday's arson and compensation to those whose shops were set on fire.