The 12-hour bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district today failed to evoke much response, even as over 200 GJM supporters were detained for trying to enforce the shutdown.
Government buses arrived at Darjeeling with tourists escorted by security personnel. Private vehicles were however off the roads.
Around 98 per cent of attendance was recorded in government offices and private schools were open. Shops were mostly closed. Bank ATMs were found to be open also.
At around 11 AM, two toy trains plied with domestic and foreign tourists to Ghoom station from Darjeeling.
This was the first time in the DHR history that a toy train operated during a bandh.
Darjeeling District Magistrate Anurag Srivastava told reporters that more than 200 hundred GJM supporters were detained. Three Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) members were arrested during the bandh.
Three state ministers -- Gautam Deb, Rabindra Nath Ghose and James Kujur monitored the situation in the three hill sub-Divisions.
Opposing the bandh, Chief Minister Mamata Banjeree had yesterday stated that there should be no more shutdown and blockades.
"Bengal's economy was affected by bandhs. There was enough bandh politics," she said.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called the shutdown alleging the state government has failed to give details of Rs 4,000 crore, which the chief minister has claimed to have given to the GTA.
GJM chief Bimal Gurung, however, claimed that the shutdown was "successful".
"People in the Hills have observed a peaceful bandh," he said, adding TMC has unleashed an autocratic rule.
State tourism minister Gautam Deb, who camped at Kalimpong, said GJM supporters damaged three cars of TMC activists and the police is taking action.
On the closure of shops, he said there was a fear among shop owners and that the state government has taken all steps to maintain normalcy.
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