Ghisingh’s convoy leaves Pintail Village on Friday. A Telegraph picture

Kurseong/Kalimpong, Feb. 22: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader was hit on the face and five of his supporters were injured in a clash with GNLF members in Mirik this morning.

This is the first clash between the two parties since the Morcha-backed indefinite bandh began in the hills three days ago.

Sources said trouble began around 9am, when Morcha picketers gathered in front of the Mirik primary health centre, 35km from Kurseong. They were arranging tyres and flags on the road to stop vehicles from plying as part of their agitation when a group of GNLF supporters arrived at the spot.

“Around 35 GNLF members came and started abusing our supporters, who retaliated and a clash ensued,” said Arjun Chettri, the press and publicity secretary of the Morcha’s Mirik branch.

The injured include Puran Raj Shrestra, a local Morcha leader, who has “a swelling on his face”, said Chettri. The press and publicity secretary added that his party has lodged a police complaint against the GNLF supporters.

The GNLF, on its part, has denied the allegations. “Morcha supporters fought among themselves and are now putting the blame on us,” said L.B. Rai, the Mirik branch president of the GNLF.

In Kurseong, members of a minority community owing allegiance to the Morcha brought out a procession today.

One of them, Nawaj Khan, also joined the party’s fast-unto-death programme in front of the subdivisional office, taking the total number of hunger strikers in Kurseong to 23.

This is the first time anyone outside the Gorkha community has taken part in the hunger strike.

The fast-unto-death in being held simultaneously in all three hill subdivisions as well as in Pintail Village near Siliguri.

Six students of Kalimpong College today joined the hunger strike there. They are all members of the Morcha’s students’ wing, the Gorkha Jana Vidyarti Morcha.

Currently, 29 people are on fast in Kalimpong, including 22 who have been refusing food since Saturday.