Gorkhaland group defers strike but refuses talks

Kolkata: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (JGM), agitating for a separate Gorkhaland in northern West Bengal, on Friday deferred its proposed indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling Hills by two days to Monday, but turned down an offer for talks with the state government.

The JGM has sought tripartite talks with the central government and the state government on its demand for a separate state. The Gorkhaland demand has triggered violence in the Darjeeling Hills, Siliguri and the Dooars in the past few days. The situation remained normal yesterday.

"Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi has sent a letter to our president Bimal Gurung, appealing for peace. Respecting the letter and giving time to the government to arrest those involved in the atrocities on our supporters at Siliguri and Naxalbari, we are deferring the shutdown till Monday," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said.

Armed security personnel patrolled the scenic tea-producing area of Darjeeling in northeast India yesterday, following clashes involving separatist activists, police said.

Tensions have been simmering for weeks in the area, with ethnic Gorkhas - a Nepali-speaking minority - reviving their demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, carved out of the northern areas of India's West Bengal province, famous for its aromatic tea. The Gorkhas have been living for decades in the area, which borders Nepal.

Tensions spiralled on Thursday with the Bengali speaking population in Siliguri town, the gateway to Darjeeling, calling for a shut-down to oppose the Gorkhas' demand for a separate state, and both groups later clashing, police said.

"The army has been kept on stand-by in Darjeeling," said West Bengal home secretary Asoke Mohon Chakraborty.

"We are keeping watch on the situation. The army will be deployed if the situation arises," he added.