Indian police say there has been sporadic violence in Darjeeling between supporters of the strike called by a group of eight regional parties and those opposed to it.

The forty-eight hour strike has been called to demand a separate state for Nepali-speaking Gorkhas in the Darjeeling region.

They're also calling for the resignation of the Darjeeling Hill Council chairman, Subhas Ghishing, before the forthcoming council elections in March.

A spokesman for the parties told the BBC that an impartial caretaker administration should take responsibility to conduct the elections.

A BBC correspondent in Calcutta says the strike has affected work in tea-gardens and transport.