Siliguri, July 20 -- A large-scale eviction drive by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) across several railway colonies and slum settlements in Siliguri has triggered a fresh political confrontation, bringing the debate over development and the right to shelter into sharp focus.
The campaign, launched after the declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election results on May 4, has seen railway authorities issue written notices, make public announcements through loudspeakers, and conduct surveys in areas occupied for decades. The exercise has affected settlements spread across municipal wards, including 4, 5, 6, 18, 24, and 28, besides pockets around New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station.
According to local sources, nearly 100 slum clusters have ...