
GJM bandh paralyses life for second day
Normal life in Darjeeling hills was paralysed for the second day on Wednesday due to the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in support of their demand for a separate Gorkhaland.
The situation in the hills, where the bandh began from 6 pm on Monday, was totally under control, Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) K L Tamta told PTI.
There was no report of any untoward incident till this morning and the situation was peaceful though bandh supporters despite incessant rains continued to block the arterial NH31 A which links Siliguri to Sikkim via Kalimpong, Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastav said.
As a result Sikkim was cut off from the rest off the country. However, vehicles of schools, the army and the police are being allowed to ply on the highway by the GJM supporters, he said.
Six hundred CRPF personnel requisitioned for deployment in the hills were kept in reserve here, official sources said.
GJM press secretary Benay Tamang said it had exempted educational institutions from the purview of the bandh. "As a nationalist party we can't stop the work of the defence forces and the police."

India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive begins. All you need to know
- The health ministry on Saturday said that close to 200,000 people were vaccinated on Day 1 of the drive.

Mumbai records lowest temperature of the year, inhales cleanest air
- The Santacruz station of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a minimum temperature of 16.6 degrees Celsius, a degree below normal. This is the second lowest minimum temperature recorded this season following a mercury drop to 16 degrees Celsius on December 22 last year.

List of prominent people who also got vaccinated today

Covishield: A timeline of the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by SII

Bribe-for-relief scam: CBI suspends 2 officers, recommends action against 2 more
- The DoPT is the nodal ministry for the CBI and any administrative action against Class-I gazetted officers (DSPs) is approved by it while the CBI Director has powers to suspend Inspectors and below rank officers.

PM Modi shares photos of Jan Shatabdi Express ahead of inauguration

Contribute to Bihar’s industrial growth: CM Nitish Kumar to diaspora
- The CM said that policies have been simplified and they would be further eased to help those wanting to contribute to Bihar’s progress in different ways.

Here is what health workers said after getting Covid-19 shots

In Goa, IFFI’s 51st edition begins with hope of ‘being back to normal’ next year
- Billed as Asia’s oldest and India’s biggest festival, IFFI is being held in Goa since 2004. This year the festival will open with the Indian premiere of the movie ‘Another Round’ by Thomas Vinterberg.

News updates from Hindustan Times: Few states report glitches in Co-WIN app

World has begun to look up to India as a power to reckon with: Union minister

Court to hear defamation case against Smriti Irani on January 23

Shot in the arm for health staff: From facing harassment to being 1st to get jab

Some states report hurdle in vaccination as CoWIN app develops glitches
- Glitches were reported from some districts from states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarkhand.
