5 ration shops attacked in WB, dealers detained

After hospitals and quarantine centres, now ration shops have become the target of mob attack in West Bengal.

In the last 24 hours at least five ration shops in Murshidabad bore the brunt of angry villagers protesting against its corrupt dealers. They complained about the quality and quantity of foodgrains supply.

On Saturday morning, three ration shops were vandalised by the unruly villagers at Dhulauri, Nashipur and Boyra in Lalgola.

Three ration dealers: Rabiul Islam at Dhulauri, Kazem Sheikh in Nashipur and Mohammad Dablu Sheikh in Boyra were roughed up also.

The mob then set the stock of foodgrains on fire at Boyra ration shop. The police detained the three ration dealers later.

At Punshi village in Salar a ration dealer: Alim Sheikh threatened a villager Santanu Das after Santanu accused him of giving only 17.5 kgs of rice of poor quality instead of the quota of 35 kgs. Nearly 1,000 villagers attacked Alim's ration shop and home before setting the stock of foodgrains ablaze.

When Trinamul Congress-ruled Salar Panchayat Samiti chairman Beauty De and Simulia Panchayat head Mukhtar Sheikh tried to pacify the attackers, they were chased away. The police detained Alim and dispersed the crowd.

On Friday afternoon a ration shop at Faridpur in Jalangi was attacked by angry villagers who gharoed its dealer Sahidul Islam, complaining of getting inadequate quantity of rice and flour from their free quota.

Murshidabad district food controller Sadhan Pathak said, “An inquiry has been started against the corrupt ration dealers who have been issued show-cause notices also. Two ration dealers licences have been suspended at Mukundabag in Azimgunj and at Faridpur.”