Tension over forcible closure of shops marks bandh call in Darjeeling, Kalimpong

Kalimpong in the morning and at noon

EOI, DARJEELING, AUGUST 28, 2024 : Shops and business establishments in Darjeeling and Kalimpong were closed for a few hours in the morning as BJP supporters organized pickets, urging traders to join the bandh call by the party against alleged police atrocities during the Nabanna march by the BJP in Kolkata on Tuesday. Supporters of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, a Trinamool Congress ally, however, urged shopkeepers and traders to open their establishments, assuring them safety.

Anger and tension flared in Kalimpong as leaders and supporters of the BJP and BGPM argued and exchanged heated words. However, timely intervention by the police ensured the incident did not get out of hand. In Kurseong, though, shops and markets remained open throughout the day without any sign of any political party.

In Kalimpong, the BJP leader Subha Pradhan said: “Many are saying that this strike is a BJP versus Trinamool one-upmanship politics. But that is not the case. This is against the injustice on a woman. The rage and protest would not have flared up if the West Bengal Government had not tried to hide it or save the culprits. We don't want such an incident to repeat.”

Kalimpong Main Road at noon

In Darjeeling, schools remained open and private vehicles plied normally. Taxis were operational throughout the day, except for taxi syndicates operating to Siliguri. “Darjeeling was open in the morning, but about 8 to 10 BJP cadres forcibly closed the shops. Being scared and confused, the shopkeepers closed their shops. They did not even know what the strike was about. We only went to the people and gave them assurances that they do not have to get scared of anyone,” BGPM Darjeeling subdivision president, Alok Kanta Mani Thulung, said.