Morcha Mirik strike 

TT; VIVEK CHHETRI ;Darjeeling, Dec. 6. The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha has called an indefinite general strike in Mirik from 6am tomorrow to protest the arrest of one of its activists in a case of alleged vandalising of a GNLF supporter’s house. Educational institutions have been exempted from the strike because of ongoing examinations. 

 The decision to call a strike was taken by the Yuva Morcha after police arrested Firoz Tamang, the Yuva Morcha activist. Priya Bardan Rai, the general secretary of the Yuva Morcha said: “We held a public meeting at Mirik today after the police arrested our activist Firoz Tamang in relation to yesterday’s incident. 

Tamang is innocent. In protest against this arrest, we have decided to call an indefinite strike in the Mirik valley area from 6am tomorrow.” Mirik valley would include, Mirik town, Soureni and Panighatta, which falls in the Terai region. 

 The house of Dhan Prasad Pradhan was vandalised and the GNLF flags planted at his house were removed allegedly by Morcha supporters yesterday. The incident had taken place after the Morcha had organised an anti-drugs rally in Mirik yesterday.

 GNLF leaders had blamed the Morcha and filed an FIR at the Mirik police station, naming Tamang, among others. Kunal Aggarwal, superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said: “Witnesses have testified the involvement of the Morcha activist who has been arrested.”