In the wake of Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling hills of West Bengal, India, the state government in the wee hours of Sunday padlocked the office of the ABN, India’s first television channel to broadcast in Nepali language.

The television channel being operated from Siliguri city was barred from broadcasting from 1am today.

A journalist associated with the channel, Ruben Gurung, said that it was a direct attack on the channel by the West Bengal government for covering the latest political developments from the Darjeeling hills.

“Padlocking the channel office without prior notice has terrorised us,” said Gurung, “It is an ill-intended move carried out by the West Bengal government.”

Meanwhile, the administration has accused the channel of broadcasting reports in support of the ongoing Gorkhaland movement.