School students on relay hunger strike

Siliguri (PTI): The non-violence movement started by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) for a separate Gorkhaland got a boost on Thursday when school students started relay hunger strikes in various parts of Darjeeling district.
Students from Class IX and above launched relay hunger strikes in batches of seven from 10 am in front of the offices of district magistrate, sub-divisional officer's office at Kurseong and in front of the office of block development officer at Mirik, Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastab said.
"We are keeping a watch over the situation and handling it carefully as it is an emotional issue," he said.
GJM press secretary Benoy Tamang told PTI that at least 20 batches of students were on hunger strike at many places, including at Nepanea bustee in the plains of Siliguri in the district.
On the GJM's decision to affix vehicle number plates with GJ prefix from July, Srivastab said the police had sent an exhaustive report on it to the authorities and was awaiting instructions. (The Hindu)