AMEET OBEROI
RANGPO, 09 Feb: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha picketers at the interstate check-post at Rangpo held up out-bound traffic from Sikkim today. This, as part of the indefinite bandh called by the GJM for the Darjeeling Hills following the death of three of its supporters in a police firing at Sipshu on the Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border on Tuesday. While the highway has been kept open for Sikkim traffic through most of the recent GJM bandhs, this time, the GJM has extended the bandh to Sikkim traffic as well. The only relaxation they were according till late this afternoon was for SNT buses which were allowed through. A total of 10 SNT buses had managed to get past Rangpo till 1 p.m. today. Army vehicles, and those of other essential services [like BRO for road repairs] were also allowed passage from the Rangpo, West Bengal, picket. All other vehicles, including marriage processions [traditionally exempt from bandhs in the hills], were however stopped.
The situation remained unchanged till the filing of this post.
RANGPO, 09 Feb: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha picketers at the interstate check-post at Rangpo held up out-bound traffic from Sikkim today. This, as part of the indefinite bandh called by the GJM for the Darjeeling Hills following the death of three of its supporters in a police firing at Sipshu on the Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border on Tuesday. While the highway has been kept open for Sikkim traffic through most of the recent GJM bandhs, this time, the GJM has extended the bandh to Sikkim traffic as well. The only relaxation they were according till late this afternoon was for SNT buses which were allowed through. A total of 10 SNT buses had managed to get past Rangpo till 1 p.m. today. Army vehicles, and those of other essential services [like BRO for road repairs] were also allowed passage from the Rangpo, West Bengal, picket. All other vehicles, including marriage processions [traditionally exempt from bandhs in the hills], were however stopped.
The situation remained unchanged till the filing of this post.
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| SNT allowed through while a passenger jeep is turned back from Rangpo, West Bengal, on Day-1 of the GJM indefinite bandh, 09 Feb. |
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| An SNT bus moves through the GJM picket at Rangpo on Wednesday |
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| A desperate foreign tourist, his jeep turned back, explains that he has plane tickets and connecting flights to catch |
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| Eventually, the West Bengal cops and the GJM Nari Morcha [wonen's wing] managed to get him a lift in an Army vehicle. |
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| The GJM picket at Rangpo, West Bengal. 09 Feb 2011 |
we do acknowledge the fact that the people of sikkim has been bearing the brunt of statehood demand agitations since 1980's. This issue of road blockade is a long standing issue and i believe both the govts should sit down and come to a consensus.Anyways we do not have anything against our brothers on the other side of the border ..after all same blood flows in our veins..and we expect your co operation and deeply regret the inconvenience suffered by the people of sikkim.
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