Cooch Behar, Aug. 4 -- A Trinamool Congress booth president was allegedly paraded through the streets with a rope tied around his waist and a garland of shoes around his neck by angry villagers in Chatampara under Nayarhat Gram Panchayat in Mathabhanga-I block on Tuesday.
The man, identified as Atul Biswas, has been accused by local residents of collecting money from villagers by promising houses under the government's housing scheme.
Villagers alleged that despite repeated assurances, he neither returned the money nor ensured they received the promised benefits. BJP flags were also seen during
the incident.
Pavitra Mandal, a local resident, alleged that several people who already owned pucca houses received benefits after paying money, while genuine beneficiaries were deprived. "My mother completed all the formalities for an Awas Yojana house but never received it. Many people allegedly paid money, which has not been returned," Mandal claimed.
Cooch Behar district BJP president Abhijit Barman denied any involvement of BJP workers.
"This reflects the anger of local people. However, taking the law into one's own hands is never acceptable," he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP formed the Mathabhanga-II Panchayat Samiti board on Tuesday. Arvinda Biswas was elected president at the board formation meeting held at the Block Development Office.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.