1 hr ago
Jalpaiguri councillors allege bullet threats as BJP denies involvement
Four councillors in Jalpaiguri said people threatened them before an important municipality meeting.
They said stones were thrown at houses and guns were fired into the air.
The councillors believed some of the attackers were linked to the BJP.
They said the attackers warned them not to attend the meeting.
The councillors reported the incidents to the police.
Police said they made an initial inquiry and would act if evidence emerged.
The meeting did not happen after sanitation workers protested outside the municipality and police warned about safety.
BJP leaders denied that their workers were involved.
The councillors said they may return to court because they believe the board formation was obstructed.
Four Trinamool Congress councillors alleged that stones were thrown at their homes and shots were fired in the air before a board formation meeting.
The councillors said attackers threatened them with serious consequences if they attended the meeting and identified some alleged attackers as BJP workers.
All four councillors filed written complaints with Kotwali police, which said it conducted a preliminary inquiry.
The board meeting was not held after sanitation workers demonstrated outside the municipality over unpaid wages and police warned of possible law-and-order problems.
BJP state general secretary Bapi Goswami denied party involvement and accused the councillors of creating a drama.
- Who
- Four Trinamool Congress councillors loyal to Mamata Banerjee, alleged attackers they linked to the BJP, Jalpaiguri police, and BJP leaders.
- What
- The councillors alleged intimidation, stone-pelting, and gunfire before a meeting to form the Jalpaiguri municipal board; the meeting did not take place.
- Where
- At the councillors’ residences and the Jalpaiguri municipality in Jalpaiguri.
- When
- The alleged attacks occurred between Friday midnight and Saturday morning; the board meeting was scheduled for Saturday at noon.
- Why
- The councillors said they were threatened to stop them from attending the municipal board formation meeting; the BJP denied involvement.
Councillors’ allegations
BJP’s denial
Responsibility for attacks
Councillors’ allegations
The councillors alleged that known BJP workers and supporters were involved in threats, stone-pelting, and firing incidents.
BJP’s denial
BJP state general secretary Bapi Goswami denied that any party workers were involved in the firing incidents.
Reason the board was not formed
Councillors’ allegations
The councillors said threats and other obstacles prevented them from forming the board and amounted to undermining democracy.
BJP’s denial
The BJP said the councillors created a drama and claimed they had won the 2022 election through rigging and bogus voting.
Next steps
Councillors’ allegations
The councillors said they would approach the court again over the failure to form the board.
BJP’s denial
The BJP did not announce a separate legal course of action in the report.
Key facts
- Alleged victims
- Four Trinamool Congress councillors loyal to Mamata Banerjee
- Reported incidents
- Stone-pelting, threats, and alleged firing of shots into the air
- Police complaint
- All four councillors filed written complaints with Kotwali police
- Scheduled meeting
- The municipal board formation meeting was planned for Saturday at noon
- Meeting outcome
- The board was not formed on Saturday
- Administrative background
- The state dissolved the civic board and appointed an administrator on August 27 after chairman Saikat Chatterjee resigned
- Court ruling
- Calcutta High Court scrapped the administrator appointment directive on September 8
Quotes
Sangeeta Banerjee
Wife of ward 15 councillor Tapan Banerjee
“They asked where my husband was. When I said he was not at home, they threatened to kill him and told me to ensure he did not attend the municipal board formation meeting. One of them then took out a pistol from his waist and fired two shots into the air in front of me”
telegraphindia.com
“Trinamool councillors who created a drama throughout the day should not mistake our courtesy for weakness. They won in 2022 through rigging and bogus voting, and people have rejected them. None of our people is involved in the firing incidents”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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