Gorkhaland impasse: Darjeeling wears deserted look, security forces patrol streets

PTI, Aug 19, 2013,  Darjeeling: The Queen of the Hills wore a deserted look on Monday with residents staying indoors as part of an agitation called by the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee to demand formation of a Gorkhaland state.

CRPF, police and RPF jawans patrolled the streets and the railway station premises.

The people stayed indoors as part of an agitation called "ghar bitrai janta" (people inside homes).

Prabha Chetri, a central committee member of the GJM and member of the Gorkha Territorial Administration, was arrested from Kurseong last night. She was arrested for allegedly putting up road blockade, intimidating people and other cases pending against her, the police said.

More than 500 GJM supporters and leaders have been arrested so far in the Darjeeling hills, the sources said.

Shops and other commercial establishments are closed and so are schools, colleges and other educational institutions.

Exemption, however, was made for an examination for the primary teacher's training being held at Ramakrishna BT college and Darjeeling Municipal Boys school.