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)