Violence over puja funds row in Alipurduar tea estate

At least two houses were torched and 12 policemen were injured in the attack on the team deployed to control the situation

Sources said around 11pm, a group of residents from Demidima tea estate under Birpara police station were returning after immersing the Durga idol of their estate.: File picture

TT   |   Alipurduar   |   17.10.21 : An altercation over the use of money collected for a community Durga puja sparked violence at a tea estate in Alipurduar late on Friday.

At least two houses were torched and 12 policemen were injured.

Sources said around 11pm, a group from Demdima tea estate under Birpara were returning after immersing the Durga idol of their estate, when one of them, Birju Panna, hinted that a part of the money collected for the puja had been swindled.

Provoked, some in the group slashed Birju with a dagger. His screams prompted residents to rush out. Tempers flared and homes of two youths who had reportedly slashed Birju were burnt down.

When a police team reached the spot, they were attacked with bricks, stones and sticks.