A violent mob stormed the residence of North Dum Dum Trinamool Congress councillor Shankar Das on Friday, severely assaulting him and leaving him critically injured. A viral video purportedly shows a 'kangaroo court' stripping and beating him. Local sources said Das was thrashed until Nimta police rescued him, after which he was admitted to a private hospital. Some residents alleged Das was involved in land-grabbing and intimidation.
Attack on associates
Two associates of North Dum Dum municipality chairman Bidhan Biswas were also allegedly attacked in nearby areas, prompting other councillors to seek immediate police protection. Police arrested two men, Sourav Poddar and Gouranga Das, for the attack on Das after a complaint was filed at Nimta Police Station. A senior officer of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate said a case was registered under relevant BNS sections. The accused were produced before Barrackpore court on Saturday, which remanded them to six days' police custody.
Trigger of unrest
Sources said unrest began after large quantities of government relief materials were allegedly recovered from the premises of Alpana Fishery, a business owned by municipality chairman Biswas in Majherhati in ward 22 (Das is councillor for the same ward). Tarpaulins, blankets and sarees meant for relief distribution were found stored there. Civic officials were reportedly shifting the materials to the municipality office after Biswas wrote to the executive officer seeking relocation, when residents spotted these.
As tensions rose, police and central forces were deployed in the area but violence spread to homes of those perceived to be close to the municipal leadership. Bappa Saha, a close associate of Biswas, was also allegedly assaulted in a neighbouring ward and his residence ransacked.
Wife's account
Das's wife alleged that 50-60 people forced their way into their home, vandalised it, dragged her husband outside and assaulted him. 'He was even stripped during the assault. When our family members attempted to intervene and rescue him, they were also attacked,' she said.
Political blame game
A Trinamool councillor said the attacks were a 'pre-planned conspiracy by BJP'. He claimed the relief materials were supplied by former MLA Chandrima Bhattacharya and stored at Biswas's office due to lack of space in the municipality office. 'We fear attempts on our lives and are scared to step out of our homes. We are seeking police protection,' he said.
BJP denied any involvement and claimed the attacks were the result of spontaneous public anger. The party said its workers had, in fact, tried to calm the situation.
