Darjeeling hills News

GTA extended coronavirus lockdown in Darjeeling, Kalimpong districts till August 8 The order was passed by GTA chairman Anit Thapa GTA is an Autonomous District Council for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas of the state

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has passed an order restricting the entry of tourists in Darjeeling Hills till July 31 to contain the spread of coronavirus in the area.

West Bengal CM on Tuesday said if the people of Darjeeling hills maintain peace, industries and development would automatically follow.

Expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morch (GJM) leader Binay Tamang on Sunday requested for Centre`s intervention in Darjeeling hills during his meeting with West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhawan, Kolkata.

With an objective to bring normalcy back in Darjeeling, West Bengal Tourism Minister Goutam Deb took out a peace rally at Garidhura area, near Kurseong, on Wednesday.

The CID West Bengal on Friday issued look out notices against three GJM leaders.

Since August 15, picketing has been withdrawn by the GJM from various parts of Darjeeling hills. 

The GJM chief reiterated that he would not compromise on the demand for Gorkhaland.

A hand grenade was hurled at the Kalimpong police station at around 11 pm yesterday, killing a civic volunteer and injuring two others.

The indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling hills entered its 62nd day on Tuesday.

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations has decided to extend the last date of registration of students for class 9 and 11 in schools situated in the Darjeeling Hills in view of the prolonged shutdown there.

Intellectuals from diverse fields in West Bengal have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking restoration of normalcy in Darjeeling.

The West Bengal government employees in Darjeeling hills, who failed to attend to their regular duties owing to the indefinite shutdown by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), will face pay cut.

The indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills, which entered its sixth day, will continue until security forces are withdrawn, a GJM-sponsored all-party meeting decided on Tuesday.

The Centre had held back sending additional paramilitary personnel meant for Darjeeling yesterday till the receipt of the West Bengal government's report on the situation there.  

"The outburst of tension in Darjeeling area is nothing but an unwarranted outcome of the autocratic rule of the Bengal government as well as the Centre's utter negligence to the problem," ABSU president Pramod Boro told reporters here.

The northern West Bengal hills remained tense on Friday as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters indulged in widespread arson to protest a police raid on party chief Bimal Gurung's house that was carried a day before.

Amid an ongoing shutdown across the Darjeeling Hills over separate Gorkhaland statehood issue, the West Bengal police on Thursday raided the residence of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung in the Patlebas area.

Heavy rain in the Darjeeling hills caused landslides, damaging a stretch of the National Highway-10 connecting West Bengal with Sikkim, an official said on Thursday.

With an eye on the coming Panchayat and municipal polls in Darjeeling district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday promised to set up more development boards representing specific communities in the northern Bengal hills.