Ration dealer's son commits suicide

Statesman News Service

NALHATI/BURDWAN/MALDA, Oct. 9: A ration dealer’s son committed suicide in Birbhum’s Nalhati block and policemen and CPI-M leaders were assaulted in Burdwan as public outrage against corruption in the public distribution system continued to rock districts of south Bengal today. Police said that Mr Utpal Narasundar (28), son of Mr Chandra Kishore Narasundar, a ration dealer of Sitalgram in Nalhati police station area, hanged himself from the ceiling of his house this morning. He was reportedly suffering from depression as ‘pressure’ was mounting on his family and father over the past two days following an increase in public outrage over corrupt rationing practices. Family members of Narasundar said the youth was suffering from depression and feared an attack on his house. Mr Chandra Kishore Narasundar said: “Last Sunday, villagers gheraoed my house and threatened us with dire consequences if we decline to pay them a lump sum.” Mr Narasundar further alleged that nearly 1000 odd villagers gheraoed his house this morning and asked him to come to a village court that would decide the fine he would have to pay. “They imposed a fine of Rs 27 lakh and told me to pay up soon. They claimed that the amount would be distributed among APL and BPL card holders. As it was impossible for us to pay the amount, my son raised his voice. Assuming that tension could escalate, I forced my son inside a room in my house where he committed suicide,” said Mr Narasundar. Mr Satya Shankar Panda, SPBirbhum, confirming the incident said: “He was under tremendous pressure. He feared that the villagers might attack him. A large contingent of police forces have been sent to the area.” Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at Writers’ Buildings today, state home secretary Mr Prasad Ranjan Ray said the panchayat department had been asked to look into continuing violence against rationing practices in the districts. “This is not just public outrage, but has been done through political instigation,” he said. In Burdwan, irate crowds attacked policemen and CPI-M leaders at several places in fresh ration-related violence today. At Belon village in Galsi PS area, Burdwan, three policemen and three CPI-M leaders were assaulted. An irate mob raided the premises of Mr Tanti Hazra, the local dealer operating in the village. They allegedly robbed foodgrain, damaged vehicles and furniture. A police contingent led by Mr Gour Mukherjee, the circle inspector, was also attacked when they came to Mr Hazra’s rescue. The mob flared up when police lobbed eight teargas shells. Local CPI-M leaders Mr Basudeb Majhi, Mr Sanjoy Chowdhury and Mr Subrata Mallik were roughed up allegedly by their own cadres when they tried to calm the mob down. They were rushed to the local Pursa block health centre. Eight villagers were injured when police resorted to a lathicharge. At Koichar in the Mongalkote PS area fresh violence erupted when local dealer Mr Arup Josh refused to pay Rs 10 lakh as ‘fine’ that was demanded by ration card-holders. Police brought the situation under control. Meanwhile, in Murshidabad, district magistrate Mr Subir Bhadra refused to accept mass resignation from the Modified Ration Dealers’ Association and requested them to reconsider their decision to surrender licences. Leaders of Murshidabad MR Dealers’ Association had demanded security for dealers after violence in Nabagram and other areas. “I did not accept their resignations and requested them to reconsider their decision in view of the forthcoming Eid and Durga puja festivals”, said Mr Subir Bhadra, the Murshidabad DM. “I also informed them that the administration would accord full protection to them and help them regularise the public distribution system, but conversely take stern action if the rationing system is hampered and if they are found guilty on the basis of public complaints,” he added. Mr Bhadra and the SP, Mr Rahul Srivastava, convened an all-political party meeting today in a bid to check protests against the faulty rationing system. At least five ration dealers have been suspended recently in this district.

FB fumes

KOLKATA, Oct. 9: A section of unscrupulous ration dealers in collusion with functionaries of different panchayats have cornered stocks of foodgrain and sold them in the open market depriving above poverty level consumers of their legitimate quota. This has fuelled the spate of violence, attacks on ration dealers and looting of their stocks in different parts of the state for the past few days, the Forward Bloc said today. Most of the state’s panchayats are controlled by the CPI-M.SNS