Darjeeling, 02nd November: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee drawing her attention to the increasing violence and hooliganism in New Jalpaiguri – Siliguri region.
Bista, in a statement, said that the TMC cadres run syndicates that control all the construction, supply of construction materials. Laborers who load and unload materials are forced to pay cut money to these syndicates. They usurp government lands and have illegally occupied government properties. They illegally control the river bed mining and also indulge in criminal activities which pose a grave risk to the safety and security of the common people. Their activities are also threatening National Security in the sensitive ‘chicken neck’ region.
The police are helpless as these mafias get active support, protection, and patronage from the local TMC leaders. Local police officials were beaten up and the hand of an officer was fractured while trying to intervene in the conflict between two warring TMC factions in New Jalpaiguri.
‘I have therefore requested Hon’ble CM to kindly put a stop to these violent criminals getting patronage. Given that Siliguri-NJP region lie in the heart of North Bengal surrounded by four international borders, I have also requested Mamata ji to kindly form a Special Investigations Team (SIT) to investigate all the criminal activities in the region.’, he added.