Malda’s Manichak block wore a deserted look on Friday, a day after a mob attacked a police team that went to Enayetpur village to clear a road blockade set up in protest against prolonged power cuts.
The aggrieved residents had cornered a group of cops in a house where they had taken shelter and planned to set it on fire, prompting the police to open fire to disperse the mob. Three policemen were injured in the attack while two villagers suffered bullet wounds. All of them are under treatment in Malda Medical College & Hospital.
In protest, the CPM, RSP and SUCI (C) had called a 12-hour general strike across
the block.
Marketplaces, educational institutions and private establishments remained closed on Friday morning. The roads remained deserted. There was a heavy deployment of the police who patrolled the area to keep the situation under control.
Pradeep Kumar Yadav, the superintendent of police of Malda, said 25 people have been arrested for attacking the on-duty cops. Parthasarathi Haldar, the inspector-in-charge of Manikchak police station, was among the injured.
Later in the day, those arrested were produced in the chief judicial magistrate’s court, which remanded them to 14 days’ judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the family that had provided shelter to the police personnel has expressed concern over their security.
Piu Khatun, the housewife, said a group of people were incessantly pelting stones and bricks at the policemen. The stone-pelting continued even after they took refuge in Khatun’s house.
“The attackers even ransacked portions of the house and were planning to set the house on fire. My eight-month-old child also got injured in the attack. We are now fear fresh attacks on us for helping the police,” she said.
Samvab Jain, the additional superintendent of police (headquarters), said they were on alert.
“There have been no further problems in the area today. We are keeping a watch,” said the police officer.
Power team visit
A joint team of the district administration and West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (WBSETCL) visited Laxmipur in English Bazar block on Friday to initiate the installation of three power distribution towers to provide electricity to Manikchak block through a 132KV high-tension line.
On Thursday, state power minister Aroop Biswas had claimed that these three towers could not be installed because of the non-cooperation of a section of people.
Once these towers are installed, they can ensure uninterrupted power supply across the Manikchak block, he had said in a statement.
“Today, work for installing the towers at three locations in English Bazar started peacefully in the presence of the subdivisional officer. Earlier, I had discussed the issue with the landowners and it has been resolved. We believe that the problem of erratic
power supply will be solved in Manikchak within a fortnight,” said Nitin Singhania, the district magistrate of Malda.
