In a dramatic incident in West Bengal's Howrah district, locals in Amardaha village took matters into their own hands against a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Sannashi Manna, whom they accused of extortion. The residents tonsured Manna and garlanded him with shoes, a traditional act of humiliation, after alleging that he demanded money from villagers to access benefits under various social welfare schemes.
Allegations of Extortion
The villagers claimed that Manna had been extorting money from people for availing benefits under government programs, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). According to the residents, Manna would threaten to block their access to these schemes unless they paid him a cut. The situation escalated when several Aadhaar cards and MGNREGA job cards were reportedly recovered from Manna's house, lending credence to the allegations.
Police Investigation Underway
Following the incident, local police have launched an investigation. Authorities have taken Manna into custody for his safety and are examining the recovered documents. Officials are also probing whether the extortion was part of a larger racket involving other local leaders. The TMC party has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
This incident highlights the growing frustration among rural communities in West Bengal over alleged corruption in welfare scheme implementation. Similar cases have been reported in other districts, where beneficiaries have complained about middlemen demanding bribes. The state government has promised strict action against those found guilty of such malpractices.
