Malda, Oct. 26 -- Three civic volunteers were seriously injured after police personnel from Manikchak Police Station were allegedly attacked by local residents while attempting to shut down an illegal gambling fair at Fatenagar in Mathurapur on the night of Lakshmi Puja.
The incident triggered tension in the area, prompting police to launch a crackdown. 12 people have been arrested in connection with the attack and were produced before the Malda district court on Monday. However, the alleged prime accused remain absconding, and police have launched an intensive search operation to trace them.
According to sources, a group of locals allegedly turned against the police team during raid, resulting in an assault that left three civic volunteers seriously injured.
Meanwhile, some local residents have questioned the arrests, claiming that innocent people have been detained while the actual perpetrators remain at large.
"We want the police to identify the real culprits and take action against them. Innocent people should not be punished for something they did not do," said a local woman, Dipti Mondal.
Another woman, Fulan Debi Mondal, alleged: "The people actually involved in the incident are still absconding.
The police must conduct a proper investigation and ensure that the guilty are arrested."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.