Cooch Behar police detained a panchayat member of the Trinamool Congress on Monday for allegedly obstructing an administrative team from conducting a survey of beneficiaries of the government’s Awas scheme.

Accused Manirul Haque, a member of Ruidanga panchayat under Mathabhanga subdivision of the district, tried to attack the team, said sources.

Around 11.30am on Monday, a team went to Dauaguri village to check the credentials of prospective beneficiaries eligible for state government funds to construct their houses.

“This exercise has been taken up across the stateto ensure no person ineligible for the assistance is included in the beneficiary list,” said a state governmentofficial.

As the team began the survey, Haque reached the spot and asked team members to start the survey from another side of the village.

The team members didn’t listen to him and continued with their work, angering Haque and some others. Soon, both sides got into a heated exchange of words.

During the altercation, Haque allegedly picked up a chair and threw it at the team. Team members called up the local block administration, who in turn, informed Ghoksadanga police.

Soon, cops reached the spot, detained Haque and took him to the police station.

TMC leaders distanced themselves from the incident. “Our party doesn’t endorse such acts. An elected representative cannot stop anadministrative team from carrying out its work, especially when chief minister Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that funds under the scheme will be released this year,” said aparty functionary.