Saturday, September 29, 2007

Curfew continues in Siliguri

Siliguri, Sept. 29 (PTI): Curfew, clamped to quell violence that erupted over the alleged derogatory comment on Indian Idol Prashant Tamang by a Delhi-based FM channel, continued for the second day today paralysing the normal life in this commercial city.
Life was also hit in Darjeeling sadar and Kurseong sub-division of Darjeeling district in a dawn-to-dusk bandh call given by the Prashant Tamang Fan Club in protest of the comment which they said had "hurt the sentiment, tradition and culture of the Gorkhas."
"No untoward incident was reported from anywhere as four columns of the army and two companies of para-military forces held a flag march in the town," Darjeeling District Magistrate, Rajesh Pandey, said.
"The curfew would continue as long as the situation demands," he said and asked all the institutions, shops, markets, government and private offices to remain closed till further orders.
He also asked the people to remain indoors.
Darjeeling police has lodged a formal FIR against the Delhi-based FM channel and a team would leave for the national capital to probe the incident.
Meanwhile, an all party meeting has been called by the West Bengal Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development and MLA from Siliguri, Ashok Bhattacharya, here during the day to restore peace in the hills.
Tamang, in a message to his fans, requested them to maintain peace and tranquility saying "violence has no place in song or music."