Sudden shutdown cripples Hills

Deep Gazmer,TNN | Jun 8, 2015, DARJEELING: If you are planning a trip to Darjeeling, think twice. Another shutdown threat looms over the 'Queen of Hills'.

Shops and business establishments in Darjeeling remained closed on Sunday after citizens protested against the CBI's recent move to name top Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders, including party president Bimal Gurung, in its chargesheet in the Madan Tamang murder case. Interestingly, GJM didn't call any bandh in the Hills on Sunday. The party leadership also urged people to maintain peace in the Hills. 

Tension prevailed in Darjeeling after posters in the name of the "janta" were found at Chowk Bazaar. The posters read: "If anyone arrests GJM president Bimal Gurung then the Hills will erupt." 

Similar posters were also found in Kalimpong. But, shops in Kurseong were open. Vehicular movement, though, was normal throughout the day in the Hills. 

"We have not received any cancellations yet, but some tourists have left early in panic," said a front office employee of a reputable hotel in Darjeeling. "Shops and markets are closed. We don't know what will happen in the evening. So, I have decided to leave the Hills with my family today itself," said Shekhar Sharma from Chhattisgarh. 

GJM leaders, however, said they did not call any bandh in the Hills. "We appeal to people to maintain peace in the Hills. We thank people for closing their shops in support which proves that they too see the CBI move as a political conspiracy. However, we urge people not to observe any form of bandh in the Hills," read a statement issued by Anit Thapa, a GJM central committee leader. 

The GJM president and 22 other senior leaders have been named in CBI's final chargesheet in the Madan Tamang murder case. On Saturday, the city sessions court in Kolkata issued an order for execution of arrest of the GJM leaders within 20 days. 

The All India Gorkha League leader was hacked to death in the broad daylight on May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside area in Darjeeling by some alleged GJM workers. Tamang was overseeing preparations for a public meeting on that fateful day. 

On Sunday morning, the party's Darjeeling subdivision unit held a meeting with its frontal organizations at Gorkha Ranga Mancha. "The CBI chargesheet won't have any impact on our party's strength," said Sawan Rai, vice president of GJM's Darjeeling subdivision. 

Later in the day, another poster, also in the name of "janta", was found pasted on a wall in Darjeeling praising the CBI and demanding the arrest of Gurung and his wife Asha, the 'Nari Morcha' chief. 

"The sudden strike took everyone off-guard. The paramilitary and police forces are alert.We feel things will become normal in a couple of days," said Anurag Srivastav, the Darjeeling DM.