Hill TMC activists seek shelter in Siliguri

SNS, SIliguri, 19 June 2017: Darjeeling Hills Trinamul Congress leaders and activists have taken shelter in Siliguri after their houses were allegedly torched and vandalised by GJMM supporters in the Hills.

25 party activists and two children are currently staying in the town. They arrived at Siliguri in the wee hours today. There are seven women, 18 men and two children. Most of them came from Takvar, Singmari and Lebong Valley.

The TMC supporters were also facing difficulties as the shops are closed there. "We have coordinated with the district police and brought them here. Such hooliganism has to be stopped. They are being threatened continuously"

"We are not going to tolerate this. I would like to appeal the protestors to stop this vandalism,' said Darjeeling Trinamul Congress president and state tourism minister Gautam Deb, who met them and held a meeting.

The representatives of 15 Hill development boards are also staying in Siliguri. Mr Deb said most of them were here and will go to Hills after the attending the All Party Meeting in Siliguri on 22 June.

Banerjee directed us to stand by our party men who are in distress. They are being intimidated to quit TMC if they want to stay in the Hills, Atleast four houses were set on fire and around 25 houses were ransacked," he said.

Mr Deb said they were tacking steps to tackle the situation politically.

Meanwhile, a meeting will he held with the stake holders of tourism and transport in Siliguri tomorrow.

The principal secretaries of transport and tourism departments, the stake holders would attend a meeting soon."

"Discussions will be held on the problems that the tour operators and the transporters are facing in the Hills and Plains," the minister added.