June 18: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today raised road blockades at two places in Alipurduar district during its 12-hour strike in the Dooars, but life was largely unaffected.

In Dalshingpara, over 100 Morcha supporters blocked a road - leading to Phuentsholing in Bhutan - from morning till late afternoon and allowed only emergency vehicles to run.

Over 200 people raised a blockade at Mangalbari for almost 12 hours. #"Police did not resort to force to remove the picketers from both the places, located between Hashimara and Jaigaon, and prevented bandh supporters from breaching law and order," a source said.

Most of the picketers were from the Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha - the women front of Bimal Gurung's party.

Today being a holiday, most tea estates were shut. A large number of private vehicles were off roads but government buses operated. Train movement was normal on the Siliguri Junction-Alipurduar route that passes through the Dooars.

In Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, some shops were open and weekly markets were crowded as usual.