GJM offers 12-hour 'window' for Eid in Darjeeling

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has given a 12-hour vehicular relaxation for the Muslim community for Eid on Monday.

Darjeeling town did not witness any celebrations on Rath Yatra owing to the bandh. The Hills are in the grip of an indefinite bandh clamped by the GJM since June 15. On the 11th day of the bandh, Gorkhaland rallies took to the streets. Later the GJM announced that on Monday there will be vehicular relaxation of the bandh for the Muslim community.

"On Monday owing to Eid, people from the Muslim community can ply in vehicles, visit relatives and friends and also come to the mosques from far-flung places," stated GJM leader Norbu G Lama.

However, the relaxation is not applicable for people of other communities.

"What is the use of a vehicular relaxation when there is no food at home. How will we celebrate," questioned one, not willing to be named. On Monday, the regular rallies will also remain off the roads. Posters were pasted declaring that there will be no rallies on Monday. In Darjeeling, the Rath Yatra (chariot festival) organised by Thakurbari remained off the streets on Sunday. "This is because of the bandh. We could not buy the offerings for the puja, hence we decided not to bring out the Rath Yatra," stated Pundit Salik Mishra. The Rath was taken out around the temple courtyard.

Meanwhile, in Mairung village in Algarah, Kalimpong, a parked police vehicle was torched. The driver was also beaten up. A police team had gone to the village to investigate a case. The vehicle was parked on the road when alleged Morcha supporters beat up the driver and torched the vehicle. In the plains of Siliguri, a rally was taken out by the youth in support of a unified Bengal.