Security tightened in Darjeeling in view of talks: District magistrate

Security has been tightened in Darjeeling in view of the fourth round of tripartite talks to be held on the Gorkhaland issue on December 21 even as some organisations here in the plains opposed to the talks have called a bandh on that day.
     
A thick security blanket has been thrown around the venue of the talks, Darjeeling district magistrate Surendera Gupta told PTI today over phone.
     
The fast unto death programme launched by Gorkha Jana Mukti (GJM) activists on December 11 to press for their demand for Gorkhaland is still continuing, the DM said.
     
In the tripartite talks the Central team would be lead by Union home secretary GK Pillai, while the state government would be represented by chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty.
    
The Bangla Bhasa Bhaon Samiti, Amra Bangali and some other organisations here in the plains have called for a 'bandh' on the day of talks in protest against the talks and opposing further division of Bengal

West Bengal Urban development minister and Siliguri MLA Ashok Bhattacharya yesterday said he was hopeful about the outcome of talks but alleged that GJM had violated the resolution of third round of tripartite talks where it had promised not to go for any agitation before the fourth round of talks of December 21.