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GNLF bandh paralyses Darjeeling

Life remained paralysed in three hill sub-divisions of West Bengal's Darjeeling district as the GNLF-sponsored indefinite bandh entered the second day on Tuesday.

The bandh was total and peaceful with all business establishments downing shutters and vehicles remaining off the road, Darjeeling's District Magistrate Anil Verma told PTI.

State and central government offices and banks also remained closed, Verma said.

The bandh has been called by Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong committees of GNLF to protest alleged failure of the district police in arresting the masterminds behind the attack on GNLF chief Subash Ghising near Kurseong on February 10.

The 72 tea gardens in the hills also did not function since Monday and the toy train did not operate, he said.

Thousands of tourists who thronged to the queen of hills during this peak season had to cut short their programme and leave the hills before the bandh began, he said.

Vehicles to and from Sikkim on National Highway 31A in the bandh-bound Kalimpong sub-division were plying as it was exempted from the purview of the bandh by GNLF, Verma said.

Meanwhile, Darjeeling branch committee president of GNLF, Dipak Gurung told PTI that the hill people responded to the bandh and were prepared to continue it till the GNLF's demands were met.

Sikkim Nationalised Transport's Joint General Manager (operations), R V Gurung, said extra buses plied in addition to normal service as government buses were running 'as usual'.

However, sources at the Private Bus Operators Syndicate said vehicles with SK registration number were allowed to ply on NH 31A by GNLF activists while those with WB registration number were not allowed.

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