DISTURBANCE

Night guards' rooms gutted, crop damaged

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 24: Three rooms of night guards were gutted and another one ransacked when some people set fire to them this morning. The incident occurred at the alluvial land of Singijani river at Baro-Solmari under Ghoksadanga police station in Cooch Behar.

 

Trinamul Congress leader Mr Binay Barman alleged that the local watermelon growers who were earlier in the CPI-M, recently joined Trinamul Congress. Out of rage CPI-M activists attacked them this morning. They set fire to the guardrooms erected in the fields to keep watch on the cultivation. They also damaged the watermelon cultivation. Five persons were injured when they tried to resist the goons, he said. A complaint was lodged with the police, he added.

 

Denying the allegation CPI-M leader Mr Sasadhar Barman said a few persons had forcefully occupied the land from others. When the aggrieved persons went there this morning to get their lands back the occupants set fire to the guardrooms only to pass the blame on the CPI-M. There was nothing political in the incident, he clarified.

 

Mathabhanga SDPO Mr Ananda Roy said a police team was sent to probe into the matter.  The situation was now peaceful and under control, he added. []