press trust of india
Darjeeling (WB), July 22: A police outpost was set on fire by pro-gorkhaland agitators in Darjeeling hills and posters were distributed saying local MP S S Ahluwalia “has not been seen in the hills in the last few months” on the 38th day of the indefinite shutdown Saturday.
The agitators threw petrol bombs at a vacant police outpost in Jaldhaka in the afternoon and also tried to set ablaze a forest bungalow in the hills but failed, the police said.
The GJM youth wing continued their fast-unto-death, which they launched Friday at four places of the hills in support of a separate Gorkhaland state.
Meanwhile Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists and other hill parties held a demonstration outside the district magistrate’s office here demanding restoration of internet services in the hills. Internet services have been suspended for the last 32 days.
The posters of BJP MP from Darjeeling S S Ahluwalia were distributed among people by the GJM, GNLF and other hill parties. “We want to know where is the MP? He has not come to the hills since the unrest began. Will he only come to the hills at the time of election? If he tries to do that the BJP will get a befitting reply from the people of the hills,” GJM MLA Amar Singh Rai said.
Friday the GNLF and other hill parties had lodged a missing person complaint for Ahluwalia, who, they alleged, “has not been seen in the hills in the last few months.” Some political party activists dressed in traditional Nepali attire, took out processions in the morning.
Police and security forces patrolled the streets and kept a tight vigil at every entry and exit points. All shops, restaurants, hotels, schools and colleges remained closed except pharmacies.
