Gorkhas recruit hundreds in Darjeeling hills

By Sujoy Dhar

KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - Hundreds of people queued up in the Darjeeling hills on Monday as the Gorkha community, pressing its demand for autonomy, began a massive recruitment drive.

Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, called an indefinite strike in the region on June 10 and are demanding a separate state of "Gorkhaland" be carved out of West Bengal to protect their culture and heritage.

The strike has badly hit the tourism and the tea industry, two mainstays of the local economy. A tea industry official has warned exports of premium Darjeeling tea could fall 20-25 percent this year.

On Sunday the Gorkhas relaxed the strike for two days to allow people to stock up rations and join the enlisting drive.

Hundreds have so far braved a steady drizzle and cold weather to throng a stadium and get their names registered.

"I have come to join the force because we want Gorkhaland," Gitika Gurung, a 23-year-old woman said.

"I am not here for money, but for a separate state which we will realise at any cost," said Gurung, who queued up with others.

At least 1,200 people died in the first Gorkhaland campaign in the 1980s, but protests ended a few years later after Gorkha leaders accepted limited autonomy.