Kolkata: Tensions flared during the Left Front’s drive to the District Magistrate’s office in Bankura on Monday after party activists scuffled with the police, broke barricades and entered the District Magistrate’s office premises.
Various Left Front organisations had called for a drive to the District Magistrate’s office across the state, including Bankura, with 15 point demands. These included the inclusion of all female applicants in the Annapurna Yojana scheme and paying fair prices for crops such as paddy, potato and jute.
Left activists and supporters tried to enter the District Magistrate’s office by marching from the Hindu School Maidan in Bankura. Police attempted to stop the procession by barricading it in front of the DM office. When protesters tried to break the barricade, a fierce scuffle broke out. Finally, the protesters broke through and entered the office premises.
Later, a large police force, including central forces, reached the District Magistrate’s office. The protesters then sat on the street outside and demonstrated before withdrawing.
CPI(M) leader Amiya Patra said the state government was “talking about everything but not doing anything in terms of work.”
He alleged that no one was getting a hundred days of work and farmers were not receiving support prices for paddy, potato and jute. He added that many women had been deprived compared to those included in the Annapurna Yojana.
Patra further remarked that “when people take to the streets, no barricade of the ruler can stop them.”
Left workers organised similar marches to District Magistrate offices in Birbhum, Jhargram, Alipurduar, Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, Purulia, Malda, Murshidabad and other districts. In most places, the programme concluded without any untoward incident.
(IANS)
