12-hr bandh evokes partial response

SNS, Siliguri, 19 July 2013: The 12-hour north Bengal bandh called by the north Bengal unit of the Rastriya Shiv Sena, demanding the abrogation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement on its second anniversary has evoked a partial response in Siliguri sub-division today. 

However, many people have chosen to remain indoors because of the heavy rains in the morning. 

Though most of the shops and markets remained closed, vehicles, including city autos, rickshaws and few states-owned buses, were found plying. The government offices and the banks remained open and functioned normally. 

The train services were also normal at NJP station. There is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere. 

However, the general secretary of north Bengal unit of Rastriya Shiv Sena, Mr Brajogopal Halder, said the people have whole-heartedly supported the bandh. 

“They observed the bandh spontaneously, as they are aware of the dangerous portents involved in the GTA for the territorial and emotional integrity of the state. It should be repealed immediately or else the people would go for a more sterner movement against it in the coming days,” he added. 

The commissioner, Siliguri police, Mr K Jayaraman, said they have made fool-proof security to avert any untoward incident. 

“We have made no arrests as there was no attempt to disrupt normal life by force,” he added.

Memorandum served: 

The anti-Gorkhaland pressure group, Amra Bangali, served a memorandum through the Siliguri sub-divisional office addressing the Indian President Mr Pranab Mukherjee, demanding abrogation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement.