Darjeeling unrest: GJM, GMCC demand Centre's 'immediate intervention' to start dialogue

Darjeeling: The GJM and other hill parties, on the 60th day of the indefinite shutdown on Sunday, took out rallies demanding immediate intervention by the Centre to start a dialogue process with all stakeholders. They demanded that the Centre should immediately intervene, considering the sentiments of the people of the hills. [caption id="" align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Gorkhaland protests. PTI[/caption] Meanwhile, the situation in Darjeeling on Sunday remained tense but incident-free. Although no incidents of violence were reported since last night, the police and security personnel have made special security arrangements in the hills and are keeping a tight vigil to avoid any untoward incident. The Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) had on Saturday urged the Centre to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders so that normalcy was restored in Darjeeling hills. The GMCC on Saturday said the indefinite shutdown demanding Gorkhaland will continue until and unless a “positive step” is taken by the Centre to restore normalcy. The GJM also took out rallies in various parts of the hills demanding the restoration of internet services, which remained banned in the hills since 18 June and an immediate withdrawal of the police from Darjeeling. With the food supply severely hit due to the shutdown, GJM activists and NGOs were seen distributing food among local people. Barring medicine shops, all other shops, business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed.