Situation in Darjeeling tense

The situation in Darjeeling, where the indefinite shutdown entered its 55th day today, was tense as the 10-day 'deadline' given to the Centre by GJM to intervene for resolving the crisis in the hills, expires this evening.
The GJM will intensify its agitation for a separate Gorkhaland if the Centre does not take any step within the deadline, which ends at 6 pm, the party's leaders said.
Special arrangements have been made by the police and security personnel who are keeping a tight vigil in order to avoid any untoward incident here.
A police contingent was seen marching towards Singhmari area, where the headquarters of the GJM is located and went up to Patlebas, a stronghold of the party's supremo Bimal Gurung.

The two places had witnessed several incidents of violence between activists of the GJM, which is spearheading the agitation, and the police in the past two months.
Meanwhile, the condition of seven GJM Yuva Morcha members, who are among the 12 on an indefinite hunger strike since July 27 to press for the statehood demand, has turned critical.

Block medical officer S Patro said the health condition of the three protesters at Mirik was grave as their pulse and heart beats had become low.
The health condition of another protester Ajit Roka at Kalimpong was also critical, he said adding all the protesters have refused to take any medical help.

A total 12 Yuva Morcha members - three each at Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik are on the indefinite fast.
The GJM took out rallies in various parts of the hills in the morning demanding restoration of Internet services, which were banned on June 18, and immediate withdrawal of police forces from the hills.
Apart from the GJM, various other hill parties and intellectuals marched the streets of Darjeeling with black flags and placards demanding Gorkhaland.