Strike, protest continue in Darjeeling hills, internet service suspended for seven days

District Magistrate of Darjeeling, Joyoshi Das Gupta, issued a statement on Tuesday, requesting all broadband and mobile internet service providers to temporarily stop internet service in the strike-hit hills.

"As a last resort, in the interest of public safety, you are requested to stop transmission of any data related message or class of messages transmitted or received by any telegraph within the ambit of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 for the next seven days, in local television channels in Darjeeling Sadar, Kurseong and Mirik Sub Divisions," the statement read.

Local authorities said that the step has been taken in the interest of public safety, preventing incitement and preventing commission of offences.

Meanwhile, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Tuesday announced a 12-hour relaxation in the indefinite strike from 6 am. on Friday (Jun 23) for outsider students, stranded in the hills for the shut down.

West Bengal government will hold an all-party meet to discuss Darjeeling issue on Thursday (Jun 22) in north Bengal. GJM along with other parties demanding separate Gorkhaland and two main opposition parties of the state- CPI-M and Congress- have decided not to join the meeting tomorrow.

The indefinite strike was called by the GJM from June 12. They even staked the claim to form Gorkhaland as a separate state.

The GJM urged the state government to resume the internet services immediately.

Tilak Chandra Roka has been nominated as the coordinator of the core committee formed on Tuesday.

The third joint meeting has been called on June 24.