Villages bear brunt of ration fury

Statesman News Service

BURDWAN/MALDA, Oct 8: Violence erupted in Nabagram area under Lalbagh subdivision in Murshidabad this morning in protest against alleged corrupt rationing practices while Nababhat locality in Burdwan town looked deserted today, a day after the violence at a dealers’ premises, police said.A 5,000-strong mob attacked police and set on fire four police vehicles in Nabagram. “A total of 32 persons were arrested. most of whom came from the Birbhum area. The area is just half a kilometre from Murshidabad, and more than 5,000 people attacked police,” Murshidabad SP Mr Rahul Srivastava said. Yesterday the house and shops of dealer Sheikh Fakir were ransacked, looted and his vehicles and furniture set ablaze by the mob. Twelve CPI-M leaders and activists were also beaten up when they went to rescue the dealer. The dealer suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1 crore. In retaliation, the CPI-M brought out a procession brandishing swords, lathis and chains. Burdwan also witnessed fresh ration violence at several places like Chaitanyapur in Mongalkote PS area, Buinchandi near Khandaghosh. At Chaitanyapur, a dealer, who refused to supply ration to about 5,000 consumers for the past eight months, was forced to give an assurance of paying Rs 7,000 each to the 5,000 consumers. The dealer, Mr Subhas Chandra Mondal, alleged: “I had sought assistance from police this morning when the crowd attacked my house but the securitymen were indifferent.” The dealer has been given 12 hours’ ultimatum by the masses. Trouble broke out when police lathicharged hundreds of people, who were fasting for Ramzan, belonging to both APL and BPL categories, assembled in front of the house of Naimuddin Mandal, a ration dealer, demanding foodgrain and compensation if the dealer failed to supply the essential items before Id.Diamond Harbour locals locked up a ration shop and confined its owner to a room for two hours this morning alleging that the ration dealer didn't give rice to card holders and sold it in the open market.