Bhandari signs on the banner. (Prabin Khaling)

Gangtok/Kalimpong, Aug. 7: The Northeast leg of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s countrywide signature campaign to press for statehood stumbled in Sikkim today when a “misunderstanding” between police and party members resulted in highway blockades in adjacent Darjeeling district.

Morcha campaigners in Gangtok alleged that a police officer had been unnecessarily rude while asking them to come to the police station because they did not have permission to hold a political gathering. This was misconstrued as an arrest and phone calls made to Darjeeling by the campaigners led to roadblocks on NH31A, the lifeline to Sikkim.

Bishal Rai, the Morcha coordinator for the campaign in Sikkim, said he and three others had been in Gangtok for the past four days, trying to seek permission from the administration. “Today’s incident was avoidable. However, with the support of the administration and the police, we have resumed the campaign,” Rai said.

The superintendent of police (East), M.S. Tuli, admitted that there had been a misunderstanding. “They were called to the police station so that they could be told that they did not have permission to set up banners and posters and distribute leaflets. This was misconstrued as arrest. Later, they were allowed to carry on with their campaign,” Tuli said.

Police sources in Kalimpong said there was a blockade on NH31A at Rambi by Morcha supporters that held up traffic for about 20 minutes. There were blockades at Rangpo and Teesta too, added the sources. They were lifted after the misunderstanding was cleared up in Gangtok.

Prior to the incident, the adviser to Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling, B.B. Gooroong, and former chief minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari were the first to sign the banner demanding Gorkhaland. Rai said the campaign had started from Darjeeling on June 23. “We have covered Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Orissa.”