Infighting warning from Deb

TT, Siliguri, June 17: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today held a meeting with administrative officials of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts and asked them to take stringent steps against land encroachers irrespective of their political affiliations. 

The minister’s directive came a day after a Trinamul worker’s home near Siliguri town was razed, a fallout of an alleged intra-party feud over claiming the dry bed of the Balasun river. Police have arrested five Trinamul workers, including a panchayat member from Porajhar on the outskirts of the town, in connection with yesterday’s incident. 

“We had elaborate discussion on the issue of encroachment of vacant land and dry river beds in Siliguri and surrounding areas with officials of both Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts. The officials have been instructed to take strict action against anybody who is found guilty of encroaching land or riverbed,” Deb said.