Three youths, who had saved a number of people from drowning in the Mal during the immersion of Durga idols in Malbazar on October 5, expressed discontent on Tuesday about the fact that they were not invited to a programme where chief minister Mamata Banerjee felicitated those who had taken part in the rescue operations.

Kartick Munda, Faridul Islam and Tariful Islam belong to Matialli block in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district.

Mamata on Tuesday handed over a certificate of appreciation and a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each to seven youths, including Mohammad Manik, whose feat had been reported by The Telegraph. Some of them were also offered the jobs of civic volunteers and contractual services at the Malbazar municipality.

“We had saved a number of people during the flash flood. A number of organisations and Bulu Chik Baraik (tribal affairs minister and Malbazar MLA) recognised our role and felicitated us. It is unfortunate that we were not called to today’s programme,” said Tariful.

He said all three of them were from economically backward families and a civic volunteer’s job, which was offered to other rescuers, would have helped the trio.

“Altogether, we three saved 30 to 40 people while they were being swept away by the river. The people whom we saved later met and thanked us for our efforts. We had expected that like others, we too, would be called to the programme,” said Faridul.

Mohammad Manik admitted that the trio had also worked with them.

“They should have been called to the chief minister's programme and felicitated,” he said.