GJM calls off bandh in Dooars, sticks to Gorkhaland demand

The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha today decided to call off its indefinite bandh in the Dooars region and its proposed padayatra towards the plains but stuck to its demand for a Gorkhaland.
    
GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri said after a meeting with the centre's interlocutor Vijay Madan at Kumani, that the indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills which entered the fourth day today, would continue.
    
"Our relay hunger strike and other forms of agitations in the Darjeeling hills in support of our demand for Gorkhaland, CBI enquiry into the February 8 police firing at Sipchu would continue as usual," Giri said.
    
Even as GJM lifted its indefinite strike in Dooars, life was largely unaffected due to the bandh call in the region so far, the police said.
    
Meanwhile, Centre's interlocutor had a prolonged meeting with GJM president Bimal Gurung and other GJM leaders at Kumani in an attempt to normalise the situation in violence-hit Darjeeling during the day.
    
Madan had earlier held discussions with district magistrates and superintendents of police of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri at Siliguri circuit house to get a brief of the law and order situation in the region before leaving Kumani.
    
The interlocutor told reporters he would submit a report about his talks with the GJM leaders after reaching Delhi and refused to elaborate on the discussions with GJM leaders.