12-hour bandh fails to evoke response

SNS, Siliguri, 10 September: The 12-hour general strike convened by the All India Namasudra Vikas Parishad (AINVP) in Siliguri sub-division failed to evoke any response today. The group convened the strike, demanding arrest of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president, Mr Bimal Gurung. 

The markets and shops along Hill Cart Road were open. Principal markets, including Bidhan market, Hong Kong market, Seth Srilal market were open too. The educational institutions, government and private offices were also open. Vehicles plied as on a normal day. 

The AINVP activists were not seen doing any picketing or blocking any road. 

Police had already warned of strong action if the strike supporters would enforce the shutdown. 

The central committee member of the parishad, Mr Jugal Kishore Sarkar, said several leaders of the outfit were put under house arrest. 

"Police were deployed along the houses of the president and secretary. We earlier told that we would not force people to observe the strike. Despite that, we feel people responded to our call. We would organise a series of agitations to press our demands in the coming days," Mr Sarkar said. 

It may be recalled that the a 24 hour state wide general strike convened by the anti-Gorkhaland pressure group Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bancaho Committee (BOBBBC) demanding the abrogation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and scrapping of the fact finding committee constituted by the state government to look into the land demand of the GJMM in the Terai and Dooars, on 19 August also had no impact in the sub-division. 

The Siliguri Metropolitan Police commissioner, Mr K Jayaraman, said there was no report of any untoward incident and no one was arrested in connection with the strike.