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Photos: Darjeeling a virtual prison, indefinite bandh enters 100th day

As the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in June enters its 100th day, life awaits normalcy amid a stirred political environment.

Updated on: Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM IST

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As Darjeeling enters the 100th day of its indefinite bandh on Friday, the West Bengal state government’s unexpected move to form an administrative board to run the semi-autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binoy Tamang at the helm has negated whatever small progress was made to restore peace and normalcy in the north Bengal hill. (PTI)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

As Darjeeling enters the 100th day of its indefinite bandh on Friday, the West Bengal state government’s unexpected move to form an administrative board to run the semi-autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binoy Tamang at the helm has negated whatever small progress was made to restore peace and normalcy in the north Bengal hill. (PTI)

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On June 5, 2017, Mamata Banerjee’s government provoked the GJM in Darjeeling by announcing that Bengali should be a compulsory subject from Class 1 to 10. This resulted in clashes between police and GJM supporters on June 8, and an initial call for a 12-hour bandh on June 9, which later evolved into the indefinite bandh the following day. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

On June 5, 2017, Mamata Banerjee’s government provoked the GJM in Darjeeling by announcing that Bengali should be a compulsory subject from Class 1 to 10. This resulted in clashes between police and GJM supporters on June 8, and an initial call for a 12-hour bandh on June 9, which later evolved into the indefinite bandh the following day. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

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An upswing in violence was observed also on June 15, when government forces raided the homes and offices of members of GJM including its chief Bimal Gurung who had been in hiding. Protesters in response set ablaze government buildings and vehicles and a World Heritage Site train station in Darjeeling. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

An upswing in violence was observed also on June 15, when government forces raided the homes and offices of members of GJM including its chief Bimal Gurung who had been in hiding. Protesters in response set ablaze government buildings and vehicles and a World Heritage Site train station in Darjeeling. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

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The indefinite bandh crippled life, bringing it to a standstill in Darjeeling with severe armed forces presence to prevent further violence in the hill town. The blanket bandh also saw tourists stranded during the height of the season as transportation services within, as well as to and fro Darjeeling were severely hit. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

The indefinite bandh crippled life, bringing it to a standstill in Darjeeling with severe armed forces presence to prevent further violence in the hill town. The blanket bandh also saw tourists stranded during the height of the season as transportation services within, as well as to and fro Darjeeling were severely hit. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

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The local economy and trade also felt the ripples of the bandh called by the GJM in support of the Gorkhaland demand. For instance, with production in the area’s 87 tea plantations at a halt and losses amounting to Rs. 400 crore, tea estates and supply to auction houses were especially hit. This will affect as many as 90,000 workers and can potentially trigger a spat between local political parties and estate owners. (Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

The local economy and trade also felt the ripples of the bandh called by the GJM in support of the Gorkhaland demand. For instance, with production in the area’s 87 tea plantations at a halt and losses amounting to Rs. 400 crore, tea estates and supply to auction houses were especially hit. This will affect as many as 90,000 workers and can potentially trigger a spat between local political parties and estate owners. (Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters)

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In an unexpected move the Bengal government announced in September, the formation of an administrative board helmed by expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang to run the semi-autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).The GTA had stopped operating nearly three months ago, when its board members resigned. (PTI)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

In an unexpected move the Bengal government announced in September, the formation of an administrative board helmed by expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang to run the semi-autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).The GTA had stopped operating nearly three months ago, when its board members resigned. (PTI)

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While demonstrations in Darjeelign were a common occurrence throught this period, protests decrying the bandh and lack of resolution helmed by supporters, volunteers associated with different political groups and NGOs were observed in various parts of the country reaching even the national capital. (Sajjad Hussain / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

While demonstrations in Darjeelign were a common occurrence throught this period, protests decrying the bandh and lack of resolution helmed by supporters, volunteers associated with different political groups and NGOs were observed in various parts of the country reaching even the national capital. (Sajjad Hussain / AFP)

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As the bandh dragged on citizens were faced with a scenario of daily life with no schools, no playgrounds for kids, a virtual blockade of information with no internet and no signs of life returning to normal in the foreseeable future. Markets and movie halls, shops and hangout zones have all remained shut in the hills since June 15 turning the hills into a vast open prison. Financial and political instability have compounded the sufferings of the people. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

As the bandh dragged on citizens were faced with a scenario of daily life with no schools, no playgrounds for kids, a virtual blockade of information with no internet and no signs of life returning to normal in the foreseeable future. Markets and movie halls, shops and hangout zones have all remained shut in the hills since June 15 turning the hills into a vast open prison. Financial and political instability have compounded the sufferings of the people. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

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With the new administrative board in conjunction with West Bengal government is in place, Tamang claimed ‘Without the GTA in place, tri-partite meeting between the centre, state government and the Gorkhaland agitators would not be possible.’ However, the general mood in Darjeeling hills is against the GTA under the perception that any alternative political arrangement would never fulfill the aspiration of the Gorkhas. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 5:46 PM

With the new administrative board in conjunction with West Bengal government is in place, Tamang claimed ‘Without the GTA in place, tri-partite meeting between the centre, state government and the Gorkhaland agitators would not be possible.’ However, the general mood in Darjeeling hills is against the GTA under the perception that any alternative political arrangement would never fulfill the aspiration of the Gorkhas. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP)

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