Malda, Nov. 2 -- A long-standing land dispute turned violent at Hamidpur under Mothabari Police Station in Malda district on Sunday, leaving one person dead and four others injured, including a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan. Two of the injured are currently undergoing treatment at Malda Medical College and Hospital. 13 persons have been arrested so far in the case and produced in the court.
The deceased has been identified as Shibcharan Mondal (50). He reportedly succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Kolkata for advanced treatment.
According to SSB jawan Shashank Shekhar Yadav, a resident of Hamidpur, his family owns around 50 bighas of ancestral land, besides nearly 300 bighas of debottar (deity-owned) property. He alleged that a section of the latter property had been illegally occupied by miscreants.
Yadav claimed: "I have repeatedly approached various authorities seeking the recovery of the occupied land, but no action had yielded any result."
On Sunday afternoon, he went to the disputed plot along with a group of farmers to cultivate the land. Allegedly, a group of miscreants suddenly attacked them and brutally assaulted those present, leaving four people injured.
The injured were initially taken to MMCH while two were admitted, one critically injured person was referred to Kolkata. However, Shibcharan Mondal died on the way.
Police sources said a complaint had been lodged against 21 people in connection with the incident, and 13 accused had already been arrested. The main accused, Sanatan Mondal, is absconding.
Mothabari police have initiated an investigation. The body has been sent to Malda Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.