Siliguri, 13th May: Tension gripped the Chandannagar area of Hatiadanga under the Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly, after the allegations raised over the encroachment of riverbanks for constructing a temple. On Monday, Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee and Mitali Malakar, the Pradhan of Dabgram-II, visited the area to intervene in the entire incident.
According to reports, the construction work of a temple in Hatiadanga’s Chandannagar area has encroached upon the riverbed, changing the river’s course. Upon receiving a complaint from the locals regarding the matter, MLA Sikha Chatterjee and Pradhan Mitali Malakar arrived to halt the encroachment.
During this, the incident led to a massive altercation with the temple committee members over the discontinuation of the construction of the temple. Meanwhile, the officials of the Ashighar Outpost arrived at the location to bring the situation under control. Consequently, construction activities related to the temple were halted.
In this regard, MLA Sikha Chatterjee and Pradhan Mitali Malakar raised allegations regarding the encroachment by the land mafia with the support of the Trinamool Congress. They further alleged the motive to occupy the riverbanks, with intentions to first sell the temple and then to sell the land.
On the other hand, TMC leader Shakalu Roy reached the spot upon being called by the temple committee. In response to the altercation, the TMC leader stated that several individuals had occupied riverbeds and constructed residences. However, instead of demolishing those structures, the temple is targeted to be demolished.