One persons died and some others were injured in a turf war over a plot of land in Dhapa area between a Trinamul Congress MLA and a Trinamul Congress councillor.
The councillor of ward number 58 Shambhunath Kow along with a group of supporters went to take possession of a 15-cottah plot of a defunct khatal at Mathpukhur in Pragati Maidan police station area at around 9.30 am. When local residents led by active Trinamul Congress worker Adhir Maity put up a resistance, the councillor and his henchmen attacked them. In the melee, Kow allegedly pushed Maity who fell down and was hurt. He was rushed to a private hospital where he later died. Maity owed allegiance to Trinamul Congress MLA Swarnakamal Saha.
The news of his death sparked enormous public anger. Local residents took to the street demanding the councillor’s immediate arrest.
Sensing the public mood, chief minister Mamata Banerjee who was in Bankura ordered Kow’s arrest and suspension from the party. “As soon as I heard about the Dhapa incident I ordered the councillor’s arrest. He may be a Trinamul Congress man, but the law is equal for everybody. He will also be suspended from the party. Every one will have to bear the consequences of his actions,” Ms Banerjee said while addressing a public rally at Jhilimili in Bankura. An FIR was later lodged against Kow and eight others under section 302 and 307 of IPC in Pragati Maidan police station. Kow could not be arrested because he went absconding. The police has arrested his close associate Petkata Bablu.
When mayor Sovan Chatterjee and MLA Saha and later fire services minister Javed Khan visited the area, they had to face angry protests. Local residents and the family members of the deceased alleged that the councillor Kow had been eyeing the disputed piece of land.