All
shops in Darjeeling town today remained closed after posters came up at
the traditional ‘poster-spot’ in Chowk Bazaar Saturday asking shop
owners to condemn the July 31 arrest of Darjeeling Municipality councilor Zahid Khan for charges that included cheating, fraudulence and
misusing of funds of the WAKF Board property here at Anjuman Islamaia.
The bandh appeared to be the fallout of
two contrasting and confusing posters that appeared late Saturday
evening in Chowk Bazaar. The first one, signed by the Darjeeling Janta,
asked shopkeepers to close business for a day to denounce the arrest of
the councilor. Soon afterwards, a second poster appeared beside the
first one signed by the ‘Sadharan Janta’ asking the withdrawal of the
bandh.
Meantime, when contacted, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said that the party had nothing to do with the bandh.
“We have nothing to do with the bandh as
we have already made it clear earlier we are against all forms of
bandhs, and as far as the ongoing issue is concerned, we have nothing to
comment on it,” said GJM assistant secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai.
Khan was arrested on the basis of an FIR
lodged by the WAKF Board in Kolkata following which the case was
transferred to Darjeeling recently. Seven more persons are named in the
FIR, but they are presently absconding.
Khan was produced at the Darjeeling
court on August 1 and the CJM court sent the civic body councilor to
four days police remand.
However, even if the shops remained
closed since morning, vehicles were seen plying as usual and the town
area was crowded with people as in normal days. (EOIC)