Dooars bandh remains largely peaceful

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI

, 18 Jun 2017: After hills’ continuous agitations demanding separate state of Gorkhaland today a joint party rally was organised in several parts of Terai and Dooars.

The twelve hour Dooars bandh remained peaceful except some minor violence broke at foothills.

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) including Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM), Jan Andolan Party (JAP) and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supporters jointly marched in a peace rally at Sukuna, Methibari, Salbari, Nepania Busty, Panighatta, Jaigaon and several other parts of Dooars and GTA region.

GJM terai leader Tshering Dahal who earlier was veteran GNLF leader and close aide of Subash Ghishing said, “Our demand is the oldest one and the government should think over it. Now since people have sacrificed their lives for the statehood there is no other option of withdrawing the movement. Our ultimate goal is to achieve Gorkhaland.”

A huge rally was taken out on Sunday morning at Panighatta under Mirik block which is the hometown of TMC hill president Rajen Mukhia.

Thousands of supporters from GJM, GNLF and CPRM marched shouting slogans ‘We want Gorkhaland, We won’t’ stay in Bengal’.