DARJEELING (West Bengal): West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday gave a 72-hour deadline to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to withdraw its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling or be ready to face strong action from the state government.

"The West Bengal government is ready for talks with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha if its indefinite bandh is withdrawn in Darjeeling, but there will be no division of the state," Mamata Banerjee said.

Earlier in the day, a top GJM leader was arrested here on Saturday in connection with cases of arson and attempt to murder even as the indefinite bandh to demand for separate Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling hills entered eighth day with the hill station wearing a deserted look.

Narayan Pradhan , president of GJM Darjeeling town committee, was arrested early on Saturday for cases of arson, attempt to murder and other criminal cases, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, he was taken into custody early in the morning from a location in Darjeeling town, taking the total number of arrests to 149 in the hills, the police said.

Meanwhile, the bandh continues to paralyse life with shortage of food reported across the hills, sources said.

All shops and other commercial establishments have been closed since the beginning of the indefinite bandh.

Vehicular traffic on NH-31A, the lifeline of Sikkim, was also hit, the sources said.

GJM leaders and supporters gathered at the main areas and at District Magistrate's office in Darjeeling town and raised slogans asking for implementation of their demands and release of arrested leaders.

Meanwhile, three local cable TV operators have been ordered yesterday to stop telecast in Darjeeling hills.

(With inputs from PTI)

