Gangtok/Kalimpong, Sept. 18: The relay hunger strike by members of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) was joined today by a group of youths from Lachung in North Sikkim.

The ACT fast has been going on for more than two months in protest against the construction of hydel power projects in the Lepcha reserve of Dzongu in North Sikkim. The protesters argue that the construction would disturb the fragile ecological balance of the area and hurt the religious sentiments of the Lepchas.

The Lachungpas today expressed solidarity with the movement by participating in the relay fast 24 hours. Another batch is expected to join in the next two days. Besides supporting ACT, the group has also decided to take up the issue of mega hydroelectric power projects coming up in Lachung.

Thupden Lachungpa, Thackche Lachungpa, Samdup Lachungpa, C. Rinzing Lachungpa and R. Chewang Lachungpa who joined the relay fast will also submit a memorandum on the issue to the authorities concerned on the matter.

In another development a handful of anonymous leaflets were circulated in Kalimpong today warning Lepchas to call off their relay hunger strike and concentrate wholly on getting Darjeeling boy Prashant Tamang voted as the next Indian Idol.

The Lepchas have been fasting for the past 24 days to express their solidarity on the hydel power protest launched by ACT in Sikkim.

Lepcha organisations here like Rong Ong Prongzom (Lepcha Youth Organisation) have decided to ignore the leaflet than add credence by commenting on it.