Curfew, clamped to quell violence that erupted over the alleged derogatory comment on Indian Idol Prashant Tamang by a Delhi-based FM channel, continued for the second day on Saturday paralysing normal life in Siliguri.
Life was also hit in Darjeeling sadar and Kurseong sub-division of Darjeeling district in a dawn-to-dusk bandh call given by the Prashant Tamang Fan Club in protest of the comment, which they said had "hurt the sentiment, tradition and culture of the Gorkhas."
"No untoward incident was reported from anywhere as four columns of the army and two companies of para-military forces held a flag march in the town," Darjeeling District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey said.
"The curfew will continue as long as the situation demands," he said and asked all institutions, shops, markets, government and private offices to remain closed till further orders.
He also asked the people to remain indoors.
Darjeeling police has lodged a formal FIR against the Delhi-based FM channel and a team will leave for Delhi to probe the incident.
Meanwhile, a peace rally has been called by the West Bengal Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development and Siliguri Legislator Ashok Bhattacharya in Siliguri during the day to restore peace in the hills.
Tamang, in a message to his fans, requested them to maintain peace and tranquility saying, "Violence has no place in song or music."
Bhattacharya told PTI that there were no reports of any untoward incidents and if normal situation is restored then the curfew would be lifted any time.
He said the all-party peace meeting had proved to be effective and politicans of Darjeeling hills had assured him that they would take steps to ensure that peace was not disturbed.
The minister said that peace was returning to Siliguri was proved by the fact that many people have ventured out of their homes
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