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Sukna (West Bengal), Feb.18 (ANI): The day-long strike called by the activists of Vidhyarthi Morcha, a student wing of the regional Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM), stalled life in Sukna region of West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills.

The 24-hour strike was called in several regions of the state such as Siliguri, Darjeeling and Dooars, after the activists were prevented from taking out a mass rally to press their demand for a separate Gorkhaland state.

People preferred to remain indoors, as all shops, schools, colleges were closed and roads remained deserted.

Activists also blocked roads and prevented any vehicular movement much to the chagrin of the locals.

The activists have been threatening to continue their protest till the Central government concedes to their demand for a political level dialogue on the Gorkhaland issue.

Gorkhas, who are basically ethnic Nepalese, have been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland, which they contend, will protect their cultural heritage and language.

The demand for Gorkhaland gained momentum after New Delhi announced earlier that it would carve out the new state of Telangana out of the present state of Andhra Pradesh in south India.

At least 1,200 people died in the first Gorkhaland campaign in the 1980s led by Subhash Geishing of Gorkha National Liberation Front. However, protests ended a few years later after the Gorkha leaders accepted limited autonomy with the formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hills Council.

The Gorkha population in West Bengal is around one million out of over 80 million. (ANI)