WB: Violence breaks out in Darjeeling after GJM calls for bandh

New Delhi: Incidents of violence have been reported in West Bengal's Darjeeling after the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) called for a 72-hour bandh demanding Gorkhaland. Some suspected GJM supporters torched vehicles in the Mall area and police have arrested 10 people so far.

The bandh is being held in areas covered under the newly-formed Gorkha Territorial Administration.

The long-standing agitation for forming a separate state out of the Darjeeling hills has been on for the past two decades.

A tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM, and the state and the Centre for setting up Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), in July 18, 2011, an autonomous and elected hill council armed with more powers.