Anti-GTA bandh near total in Siliguri

16 January 2012

SILIGURI, 16 JAN: The 24-hour Bangla bandh called by the Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Banchao Committee (BOBBBC) evoked near total response in Siliguri sub-division. The BOBBBC called the bandh to protest against the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).
Educational institutions, most of the shops and markets across the sub-division remained closed. Attendance at government and private establishments was much lower as compared to normal days.
Principal thoroughfares wore a deserted look as traffic was mostly off the roads. Bandh supporters blocked Up Kamrup Express near Tinbatti More in the morning. Private buses and most of the autos were off from the roads. Few government buses, rickshaws and private vehicles were seen plying on the streets. Police arrested three bandh supporters, including the BOBBBC president, Dr Mukunda Majumder. Mr Majumder said before being arrested that the bandh was total and people had rejected the GTA agreement.  
“The people have participated in the shutdown across north Bengal as they are convinced that the GTA would prove to be the stepping stone to the division of Bengal for the second time. We would continue fighting against the conspiracy hatched by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in connivance with the pliant state government till the GTA is scrapped,” he said.
The bandh has, however, passed off peacefully with no untoward incident having been reported from anywhere in north Bengal.
The inspector-in-charge, Siliguri police station, Mr Pinaki Majumdar, said police have arrested three bandh supporters from Siliguri town. According to GRP officials, they had dispersed the bandh supporters when they were trying to block the Kamrup Express. sns