Darjeeling unrest: Internet ban extended till Jul 4

Earlier on Jun 21, District Magistrate of Darjeeling, Joyoshi Das Gupta, had suspended internet service and local TV channels in the hills for seven days and she extended the order on Tuesday to prevent deterioration in law and order situation.

Meanwhile, the state government on Tuesday appointed IPS officer Humayun Kabir as the DIG of Darjeeling range while Niraj Kumar Singh replaced C.S. Lepcha as the commissioner of Siliguri Police Commissionerate, according to reports.

Triggering tension in violence-hit Darjeeling hills, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists hurt themselves with tubelights at Chawk Bazar area on Tuesday, saying that they are ready to give blood and sacrifice their lives for Gorkhaland.

GJM supporters set ablaze the copies of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) accord at several locations in Darjeeling on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the GJM held protest rallies at as many as 45 locations in the hills. A heavy police force along with CRPF and Indian Army have been deployed there to avoid any untoward situation.

Strike supporters allegedly vandalized few vehicles, including a state-run bus, and tried to torch a government office in Darjeeling.

The GTA accord was signed on July 18, 2011 between the Central government, the West Bengal government and the GJM, wherein a semi-autonomous body was created for administration in the hills.

Reports suggested that last week, GJM members resigned in support of the latest agitations spearheaded by Bimal Gurung.

According to local media reports, the house of Rajen Betiwal, chairman of West Bengal Khas Cultural Development Board, was set on fire late on Monday evening by miscreants.

Keywords: DarjeelingUnrest, HurtWithTubelights, GorkhaTerritorialAdministration, GorkhaJanmuktiMorcha.

(With Inputs by Deepayan Sinha)