According to GJM sources, Gurung had been in touch with the ruling TMC over the past one month
Sporadic violence, bandh and calls for statehood have returned to the Hills of Darjeeling that were till recently 'smiling'. Following a series of violence since last week, which culminated in today's strike call, 10 people have been detained by the police among which eight were detained after they allegedly tried to torch a BDO office in Bijenbari. Although fire tenders controlled the situation quickly, atleast one room was gutted.Protestors also locked the Sukna Village Panchayet office which could be reopened after the police stepped in.Tourists, who were holidaying in the Hills to escape the summer heat, drove away in huge numbers to flee the uncertainty and violence.The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) -sponsored shutdown of government offices started today amid all efforts from the administration to foil it. The state government has issued a notice to its employees and any absentee will face deduction in salary or even break from service. Furthermore, security, including deployment .