Indefinite shutdown enters 40th day, DGP to visit Darjeeling

Darjeeling: Shops and business establishments remain shut following the indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) for a separate state of Gorkhaland in Darjeeling Hills. PTI file Photo

PTI | Darjeeling | July 24, 2017:  The Director General of Police and other senior police officers will visit Darjeeling on Monday to assess the law and order situation in the hills as the GJM-sponsored indefinite shutdown entered its 40th day. The situation in Darjeeling remained tense but incident-free as no incidents of violence or arson was reported since last night, police said. West Bengal DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha, along with ADGP (law and order) Anuj Sharma and other senior police officers are scheduled to visit Darjeeling.

They will hold meetings with district police officers and administrative officials. Police and security forces patrolled the streets of the hills and kept a tight vigil at every entry and exit routes. 

Except medicine shops, all the other shops, restaurants, hotels, schools and colleges remained closed.

The GJM has plans to hold rallies in various parts of the hills in demand of separate state of Gorkhaland. In the morning, some political party activists, dressed in traditional Nepali attire, took out rallies. They were heard shouting slogans in support of Gorkhaland. With food supply severely hit due to the ongoing shutdown, GJM activists and NGOs of the hills were seen distributing food to the locals.