West Bengal: Authorities Demolish TMC Office In Barrackpore Over Illegal Construction

Kolkata: The authorities demolished a structure belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Tuesday over allegations of illegal construction. This is the latest in a series of buldozer action in West Bengal following the victory of the BJP in the Assembly Elections.

Buldozer action in Bankura as well?

Led by the local MLA, authorities from Bankura Municipal High School used a bulldozer to reclaim a plot of land that had long been the subject of an ownership dispute. Teachers and guardians are delighted that the disputed land has been recovered following the change of government in the state.

It was alleged that a portion of the land belonging to Bankura Municipal High School—one of the district's most renowned schools—had been under illegal occupation for a long time. Further allegations suggest that the land was seized and subsequently transferred to another individual with the backing of the former ruling party, Trinamool. A fence had been erected on the site, and construction work had even begun. Following the change of government, Bankura MLA Niladri Shekhar Dana learned of the issue while attending a school function. He subsequently took the initiative to ensure the land was returned to the school.

On Tuesday morning, MLA Niladri, accompanied by school authorities, used a bulldozer to clear the site and demolish the fencing. School Headmaster Sadhan Ghosh said, "We had repeatedly faced threats while trying to recover this land, which had been occupied for so long. It has finally been reclaimed following the change of government. Now, we can utilize this land to improve the school's infrastructure." A guardian named Madhusudan Bhattacharya remarked, "The school's land had been illegally occupied with the support of Trinamool." MLA Niladri stated, "We have begun the process of reclaiming government land that had been forcibly occupied for so long. Ordinary people previously lacked the courage to protest out of fear; now, that fear has vanished, and confidence has been restored. I will not allow any injustice to take place on the soil of Bankura."

What happened in Tikiapara?

Meanwhile, shanties on railway land in Tikiapara were demolished. On Tuesday, railway authorities used two bulldozers to tear down illegal shacks situated along the Tikiapara Bypass. Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the local police, and central forces were deployed at the site. It is alleged that over 100 families have been living in illegally constructed homes on this railway land for a long time. Railway tracks connecting South Eastern Railway's Tikiapara area to Howrah Station run right next to the settlement.

Complaints have been raised that the large drains along the tracks are not properly cleaned during the monsoon season due to the presence of these shanties. Consequently, water accumulates on the tracks and the adjacent road, disrupting train services. The railway authorities aim to clear the slum to facilitate the cleaning of drainage channels and prevent waterlogging on the tracks during the upcoming monsoon.

Tensions flared during the eviction drive on Tuesday, though the police managed to bring the situation under control. The residents of the shanties stated that they had been living there for a long time and expressed concern about where they would go or how they would manage during the monsoon season.