Three trucks loaded with onions which were supposed to be sent to Bangladesh through the Mahadipur land port in Malda district were set on fire by miscreants in the past 72 hours.

Police have arrested three persons and initiated a probe to know the motive behind the arson. A section of police officers suspects that the onion sacks were torched because drivers refused to pay money to the miscreants.

Altogether, onions worth around Rs 10 lakh were destroyed in the arson.

According to the exporters, the onions loaded on a truck were torched on Saturday afternoon.

“We initially thought it was an accident and anticipated that any driver or helper of a truck had probably thrown a cigarette stub which caused the blaze. But when the same incident was repeated on Sunday and onions loaded on two trucks were seen burning, we smelled a conspiracy. Even CCTV footage revealed that two persons were deliberately setting the onions on fire. If such miscreants are not arrested, it can affect the border trade through Mahadipur,” said Asgar Ali, an exporter who sends onions to Bangladesh.

Another exporter said that a gang had been active at the border areas of Mahadipur who extort money from trucks.

“These miscreants demand hefty amounts from drivers and helpers of trucks as they reach the border to head for Bangladesh. If they are denied, they even rough up the drivers and helpers, steal the goods loaded in trucks or even take away spare parts of the vehicle. But this time, they have burnt down the onions. Such highhandedness of such miscreants should stop. The police must act,” said the exporter.

Every day, around 300 to 350 trucks cross the international border through Mahadipur.

Senior police officers, when contacted, said they are investigating the case.

“Three persons have been arrested. We need to interrogate them to know why they resorted to such an act,” said Amitabha Maiti, SP, Malda.