Senior Trinamul leaders visited a village in Siliguri subdivision’s Naxalbari on Thursday where some youths had ransacked several houses on Wednesday following the death of a localresident in an alleged mob attack.

Gautam Deb, the mayor of Siliguri, along with Papia Ghosh, the Trinamul president of Darjeeling (plains) district, and some other leaders went to Muribusty, some 20km from here. They met the families whose homes were damaged during the attack and the family of the deceased and assured them of all necessary help.

“We visited the area according to the instructions of the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee). I have spoken with officials of the Darjeeling district administration and police. A report will be sent to the chief minister soon. The residents here should maintain peace,” said Deb.

On Tuesday, Sudhir Nagasia of Bijoynagar-Jharujote area in Hatighisa of Naxalbari, had an altercation with Radha Roy, a resident of Muribusty. Roy, along with some others, allegedly assaulted Sudhir severely. Sudhir later succumbed to his injuries.

As the news of Sudhir’s death spread, his angry neighbours and relatives raised a road blockade of Asian Highway II on Wednesday, demanding the arrests of the accused. Simultaneously, some protesters went to Muribusty as they had come to know that it was Roy’s locality, and ransacked a number of houses and set furniture and other belongings on fire.

Police brought the situation under control. Roy was arrested from Panitanki near the India-Nepal border.

On Thursday, Muribusty wore a deserted look as the Trinamul delegation reached the locality. Policemen were posted in the area.

As Deb and others moved through lanes, a number of residents approached them and narrated their ordeal. “The attackers even threw away food grains from our homes,” said a resident.

Arun Ghosh, the sabhadhipati of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, said they wouldprovide some monetary compensation to the affected families.

“We have prepared a list of 45 affected villagers whose houses were ransacked or torched by an angry mob. All of them will be compensated, as well as the family of the deceased,” said Ghosh.

On Friday, the families would be called to the Hatighisa panchayat office where compensation would be handed over to them. The SMP, sources said, will give Rs 25,000 to Nagasia’s family. Owners of homes completely and partially damaged will receive Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively.

On Thursday, the Darjeeling district police also arrested another person in connection with Nagasia’s murder.

“Akash Roy, the brother-in-law of prime accused Radha Roy, was arrested from Jharujote,” said a police officer.

A probe is on.

40 crude bombs found in Malda

Malda: Forty crude bombs were found on a field where children often played at a village near Ratua in Malda district on Wednesday night.

The bombs were spotted by the residents of Uttar Balupur village.

“Ratua police arrived and cordoned off the area. Today (Thursday), the bomb detection and disposal squad of the CID came and defused the bombs at a deserted place,” said a source.

Malda superintendent of police Pradeep Kumar Yadav said samples of the bombs had been preserved for investigation.

“We are in search of those who were making bombs in the area,” said Yadav.

The villagers said they suspected that criminals were making crude bombs on the field and left them behind there for some reason.

“Our children often play on the field. We are fortunate that there has been no casualty,” said Anarul Haque, a villager.

The Trinamul Congress alleged that the bombs had been made by Congress supporters. The Congress retorted that Trinamul-linked people had made the bombs.

SOUMYA DE SARKAR