Strike cripples India's Darjeeling hills again

Protesters shut down India's famous Darjeeling hills yesterday, threatening its tea and tourism industries, as the Gorkha community pressed its demand for autonomy with an indefinite strike.

Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, are demanding a separate state of "Gorkhaland" be carved out of the eastern state of West Bengal to protect their culture and heritage.

Streets were deserted in Darjeeling yesterday.