Tourists attacked with iron rods - Darjeeling Hills & Dooers

cutiepie · Jun 10th, 2008, 16:44

Hi friends..Its really sad that at this time so much unrest is prevailing in the hills. Tourism being their bread n butter, they would be suffering heavy losses. I personally feel really bad coz just 10 days back i was there and would have faced so much harassment if i wud have been told to rush back.

kullukid · Jun 10th, 2008, 16:47

What unrest in the hills?

Any links or more info?

KK

cutiepie · Jun 10th, 2008, 16:51

yeah ..didnt u go thru the newspaper this morning? there has been an indefinite bandh call in the hills..mainly in darjeeling area.the Govt has yesrterday at 1:00 pm announced that all tourists leave by 6:00 am today. and similarly sikkim govt has also asked tourists to leave,since road connectivity with siliguri wud be affected. Man!! u shud see them flocking back..all on roofs of buses and jeeps...the the private cabs are charging minimum 4500 against the usual 1200. Too bad.

theyyamdancer · Jun 10th, 2008, 16:55

See the thread on "Darjeeling unrest" in the West Bengal section today with links to the Indian press.

ananda2193 · Jun 10th, 2008, 19:21

Here's a link to the story,

http://in.news.yahoo.com/ani/2008061...s-a1a8389.html

Bhaswaran · Jun 11th, 2008, 13:46

It seems the situation in the Darjeeling Hills are getting out of control. Bandhs are coming out of nowwhere and tourists are effected out of the blue. Yesterday, seven tourist buses were ransacked and tourists forced to come out of them. People coming or planning to come to Darjeeling please take a cautious note of the present situation. Hope the situation improves but presently, it is showing no signs as such and it is advisable to avoid the Darjeeling Hills for now.

puchoo · Jun 11th, 2008, 13:47

sad and frustrating...!

Bhaswaran · Jun 11th, 2008, 13:52

yes, frustrating.....and moreover, travelling to Gangtok (Sikkim) is also getting effected due to this bandh and agitation because the only road to Sikkim passes through the Darjeeling District.

zoltan · Jun 11th, 2008, 13:59

Is there any indication why this is happening ?
- Economic downturn;
- anger at local govt. being directed on tourists

I do sympathise with those who were affected.

Cheers
Zoltan

dream_traveller · Jun 11th, 2008, 14:06

@Zoltan
"Gorkhas" the local communty of the region(Darjeeling, some part of south sikkim bordering with Darjeeling District) they want a separate federal state for gorkhas under the Union of India.
Also some intra party politics of GNLF most of the party members are showing rivarly with Subhash Ghising.

mantru · Jun 11th, 2008, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by dream_traveller

@Zoltan

Also some intra party politics of GNLF most of the party members are showing rivarly with Subhash Ghising.

Its not rivelry with Subash gishing its the frustration of the people that he did nothing for the people for 20 years after the first agitation started in 1988.....uptill now nobody dared to speak against him as it is believed whoever spoke against him were silenced...now ther are few people who stood up against him and asking for statehood which had started in th 80's,and he made foll of everyone by accepting DGHC....we dont know how much did he pocket for that offer ??
We too feel sorry for the tourist coz its going to affect the main source of income for majority of household...and also the local people who will be adversely affected coz of this indefinate strike....we hope the state govt cooperates and we really hope 80's scenario does not repeat again......all we can do is pray that the situation can be resolved without bloodshed.

dream_traveller · Jun 11th, 2008, 14:30

@Mantru
I also wanted to mean the same by saying Intra Patry Problems. Yeh It is true that for 20 years Subhash Ghising has not done anything for the development of Darjeeling. Whether Darjeeling to be given statehood or not, its very much a debatable issue. I am not getting in to the issue of statehood. Also it is true Whatever little Mr. Ghising has done it is for his electoral advantages and political survival. Having said that also we have to admit under his leadership Darjeeling has been given status of 6th schedule under Indian Constitution. But ecnomically area of Darjeeling is lacking. Darjeeling needs special focus economically and i hope recently forme Ministry for North-East will give special attention.

mantru · Jun 11th, 2008, 15:06

6 th schedule is not yet given....it will divide the community....its better do do not get it....that ways all will have equal status......i do not have indepth info on 6 th schedule....but i had read somewhere it will divide the people on basis of caste or I ma not sure..i think i'll have to look it up

Voodoo · Jun 11th, 2008, 15:09

Luckily escaped the turmoil. Came back from Sikkim on Saturday and all these started on Sunday! With 2 kids, I just find myself extremely lucky.

Fan of India · Jun 11th, 2008, 15:44

Extremely sad indeed!!

Jun 10th, 2008, 16:44	#1
cutiepie Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: KOLKATA Posts: 110	Unrest in the hills Hi friends..Its really sad that at this time so much unrest is prevailing in the hills. Tourism being their bread n butter, they would be suffering heavy losses. I personally feel really bad coz just 10 days back i was there and would have faced so much harassment if i wud have been told to rush back.

Jun 11th, 2008, 13:46	#6
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 1,310	Avoid Darjeeling for now It seems the situation in the Darjeeling Hills are getting out of control. Bandhs are coming out of nowwhere and tourists are effected out of the blue. Yesterday, seven tourist buses were ransacked and tourists forced to come out of them. People coming or planning to come to Darjeeling please take a cautious note of the present situation. Hope the situation improves but presently, it is showing no signs as such and it is advisable to avoid the Darjeeling Hills for now. __________________ ....life is a journey.....and the journey is more important than the destination........ Photos in Indiamike :http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/15496 Photos in Flickr :http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhaswaran/ Darjeeling trip Video : "Darjeeling - The Queen of Hills" DVD

Jun 11th, 2008, 13:47	#7
puchoo Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 5,397	sad and frustrating...! __________________ Cheers! Indiamike Mod team............ puchoo.wordpress.com

Jun 11th, 2008, 13:59	#9
zoltan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 899	Is there any indication why this is happening ? - Economic downturn; - anger at local govt. being directed on tourists I do sympathise with those who were affected. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

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Jun 10th, 2008, 16:47	#2
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 1,171	What unrest in the hills? Any links or more info? KK

Jun 10th, 2008, 16:51	#3
cutiepie Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: KOLKATA Posts: 110	yeah ..didnt u go thru the newspaper this morning? there has been an indefinite bandh call in the hills..mainly in darjeeling area.the Govt has yesrterday at 1:00 pm announced that all tourists leave by 6:00 am today. and similarly sikkim govt has also asked tourists to leave,since road connectivity with siliguri wud be affected. Man!! u shud see them flocking back..all on roofs of buses and jeeps...the the private cabs are charging minimum 4500 against the usual 1200. Too bad.

Jun 10th, 2008, 16:55	#4
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,403	See the thread on "Darjeeling unrest" in the West Bengal section today with links to the Indian press.

Jun 10th, 2008, 19:21	#5
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,842	Here's a link to the story, http://in.news.yahoo.com/ani/2008061...s-a1a8389.html

Jun 11th, 2008, 13:52	#8
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 1,310	yes, frustrating.....and moreover, travelling to Gangtok (Sikkim) is also getting effected due to this bandh and agitation because the only road to Sikkim passes through the Darjeeling District.

Jun 11th, 2008, 14:06	#10
dream_traveller Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: newdelhi, india Posts: 120	@Zoltan "Gorkhas" the local communty of the region(Darjeeling, some part of south sikkim bordering with Darjeeling District) they want a separate federal state for gorkhas under the Union of India. Also some intra party politics of GNLF most of the party members are showing rivarly with Subhash Ghising.

Jun 11th, 2008, 14:30	#12
dream_traveller Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: newdelhi, india Posts: 120	@Mantru I also wanted to mean the same by saying Intra Patry Problems. Yeh It is true that for 20 years Subhash Ghising has not done anything for the development of Darjeeling. Whether Darjeeling to be given statehood or not, its very much a debatable issue. I am not getting in to the issue of statehood. Also it is true Whatever little Mr. Ghising has done it is for his electoral advantages and political survival. Having said that also we have to admit under his leadership Darjeeling has been given status of 6th schedule under Indian Constitution. But ecnomically area of Darjeeling is lacking. Darjeeling needs special focus economically and i hope recently forme Ministry for North-East will give special attention.

Jun 11th, 2008, 15:06	#13
mantru Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: darjeeling--currently in delhi Posts: 436	6 th schedule is not yet given....it will divide the community....its better do do not get it....that ways all will have equal status......i do not have indepth info on 6 th schedule....but i had read somewhere it will divide the people on basis of caste or I ma not sure..i think i'll have to look it up

Jun 11th, 2008, 15:09	#14
Voodoo Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 7	Luckily escaped the turmoil. Came back from Sikkim on Saturday and all these started on Sunday! With 2 kids, I just find myself extremely lucky.

Jun 11th, 2008, 15:44	#15
Fan of India Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 142	Extremely sad indeed!!

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