Siliguri, 09th October: The New Jalpaiguri (NJP) police arrested two miscreants on the charge of allegedly cutting an old banyan tree and illegally selling it under the garb of trimming the branches. The incident occurred in the More Bazaar area under Ward No. 34 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC).
According to reports, the tree had stood in the area for a very long time. Locals complained that miscreants were engaging in illegally chopping the tree. The destruction of the old tree led to an understandable shock and anger among the local residents. As a result, the locals held the accused woodcutters and immediately informed the NJP police station. Meanwhile, the police reached the spot and arrested the two for alleged vandalism of the tree.
Locals reported that the banyan tree provided shade over the primary school located nearby. On Sunday, a significant portion of the tree was chopped off while the school was closed. Later, on Monday, a number of branches were mechanically cut. Residents claimed that the woodcutters lacked a valid permit to take down the tree. On the other hand, local councilor Biman Chandra Tapadar vehemently condemned such actions.