Extortion by Mamata's party is order of the day in West Bengal

Party vs party over CM rally cash

OUR CORRESPONDENT  11.11.11

Balarampur (Purulia), Nov. 10: Four members of the Trinamul Congress youth wing were injured when another group from the parent party beat them up, accusing them of “collecting money” for Mamata Banerjee’s Purulia rally tomorrow. About 15 Trinamul workers armed with sticks and rods went to the party’s office in Balarampur and started beating up the six youth wing members. They also ransacked the premises and locked it. “While beating us, the attackers shouted and accused us of collecting money from traders and shopkeepers in the name of Mamata Banerjee’s public meeting in Balarampur tomorrow. They also broke a TV, a dozen chairs, a couple of tables and tore up posters,” said Santosh Das, who was among the two who suffered minor injuries. The other four have been admitted to Balarampur block hospital with injuries in the legs and knees. A police officer downplayed the clash. “We are aware of the incident. But as we are busy with the chief minister’s visit, we will look into it later.” Bholanath Majhi, president of the Trinamul Youth Congress in Balarampur, denied the allegations and accused the party seniors owing allegiance to block Trinamul chief Shristidhar Mahato of extorting money . “Our youth workers did not collect any money. It is the Trinamul members owing allegiance to Shristidhar who are asking for cash. They are collecting Rs 1,000 per trader in Balarampur town,” said Bholanath. The youth wing members have started a campaign against extortion, said Bholanath. “We are using loudspeakers to request people not to pay any money for tomorrow’s rally,” he added. “Mamata Banerjee has instructed that no one should collect money using the party’s name. We believe it was because of our campaign against extortion that Shristidhar’s associates attacked our workers,” said Bholanath. Shristidhar, however, said it was the followers of Bholanath who had been extorting money from traders in the name of the rally. “Bholanath’s followers are extorting money from traders and also campaigning against it. When my followers came to know about this, they went and roughed them up and warned them against collecting money,” said Shristidhar. Mamata rally security About 1,600 police personnel have been deployed at the venue of Mamata Banerjee’s meeting and along the 185km route she will take to reach Balarampur from Durgapur. Police said sniffer dogs were brought in to look for explosives and mine detecting devices were being used. “A total of 1,600 policemen have been deployed. Also, joint forces are maintaining a vigil on the Maoist-infested Ayodhya Hills, about 15km from Balarampur,” an officer said.