Deb warns land sharks

TT, Siliguri: Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb on Tuesday echoed Mamata Banerjee and asked Trinamul leaders and workers of Fulbari and Dabgram to abstain from syndicates and land grab.

The minister has given the warning at two public meetings organised by Trinamul in preparation for panchayat polls. He said the party would not stand by "land sharks" and would approach police to take stringent action against them.

Encroachment of land has become a common affair on the outskirts of Siliguri, which are under the Assembly seat of Deb.

"We have learned about some land grabbers in Dabgram and Fulbari. They are encroaching on the plots of different government departments. We are keeping a close vigil on them and will not tolerate such things. The police will take stern action against them and nobody will be spared if found guilty. Our party does not require any funds from them to carry out political activities," said the minister.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had issued several warning against such people in the past.

Political observers said the Trinamul leader's warning indicated his desperation as encroachment of public property and involvement of party workers in such cases had come up as a fresh challenge for Trinamul.

"A few months back, Shikha Chatterjee, a senior member of Trinamul in Rajganj block, had quit the party and joined the BJP after she was thrashed by some of her party colleagues who had encroached on some land. Chatterjee had voiced her protests and had to face the assault. It has affected party's reputation and the leaders now do not want to take any chance before panchayat elections," said an observer.

Also, Trinamul leaders are well aware that most of the common people are fed up with the situation.

"So far, no exemplary step has been taken by the party or police against these people, who claim to be party supporters and are seen hobnobbing with local Trinamul leaders. In such a situation, it is important that the party makes some move now so that it can retain and increase its support base," added the observer.