Deb cries ‘conspiracy’ in crematorium issue

SNS, Siliguri, 28 November 2014: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today said there was a ‘deep-rooted conspiracy’ behind the violence and arson at Ramghat under ward-5 in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC). 

Many people, including police personnel, were injured, a police vehicle was torched, and 20 persons have been arrested for the violence that rocked the area in Wednesday. The locals turned violent after a group of people allegedly tried to stop mourners from cremating a body. 

“A deep-rooted conspiracy is being hatched. Some anti-social elements who are backed by opposition parties were responsible for the incident as those parties are trying to take political mileage through this. 

At the same time, we strongly condemn the fact that mourners were attacked when they were trying to cremate a body,” Mr Deb said. 

The people at Ramghat are protesting the North Bengal development Department’s plan to set up an electric crematorium there. They are saying that the crematorium will spread pollution.The minister today visited the house of the deceased, Shyam Lal Sharma, whose body was allegedly barred from cremation. He later met Radhey Shyam Agawal ,who was injured in the melee. 

“A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Calcutta High Court, political parties have threatened to go on a strike, and memorandums are being served, demanding the release of those who have been arrested. I feel very ashamed of the incident,” he said. 

“There are at least 32 proposals for building crematoriums in north Bengal. Some people are trying to create obstacles when the state government has been sincerely working on development projects,” he added. 

Asked if the Ramghat construction work will continue, he said the government will take a decision on that. Though there were allegations of police high-handedness, the minister praised the police for their role in combating the situation at Ramghat on Wednesday. 

“Police did a good job in bringing the situation under control. Police acted in a restrained manner. Tomorrow, I will hold a meeting with the Siliguri Police commissioner,” Mr Deb said. Asked to comment on the alleged high-handedness, police commissioner Jag Mohan said he will look into any complaint lodged against such a thing. 

Meanwhile, the Darjeeling district Congress (Plains) sent a deputation to the Siliguri Police Commissionerate today.