Darjeeling crisis intensifies as indefinite shutdown for Gorkhaland enters 99th day

Darjeeling: Several shops remained open in Darjeeling on Thursday as the situation in the hills remained tensed as the indefinite shutdown called by the GJM for a separate state of Gorkhaland entered its 99th day. Although no incidents of violence were reported on Wednesday, police and security personnel have made special security arrangements in the hills and are maintaining a tight vigil to avoid any untoward incident. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and other hill parties took out rallies demanding that the Centre should immediately intervene and start the dialogue process considering the sentiments of the people of the hills. The Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) urged the Centre to initiate a dialogue with all the stakeholders so that normalcy is restored in the Darjeeling hills. [caption id=“attachment_4068203” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Several shops and markets in the hills remained open braving threats and intimidation by the GJM activists. However, several shops which opened in Mirik and Kurseong day before Wednesday remained closed fearing the backlash from the GJM supporters. For the 12th day in a row, police along with the administration appealed to the locals over public address systems to open shops and restore normalcy in the hills. Peace rallies were taken out by the residents at Kurseong, Darjeeling, and Mirik, while the GJM supporters took out rallies in support of a separate Gorkhaland and the ongoing shutdown in sections of Darjeeling, Sonada and Kalimpong, the police said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the agitators in Darjeeling to withdraw their strike and restore normalcy. Internet services remain suspended in the hills since 18 June.