According to Malda Police Superintendent Pradeep Kumar Yadav, so far 26 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Questioning the agitation of common people turning into violence, a senior police officer of Malda said, “Recurring power crisis in this area was the main cause of this violence.” It’s almost 12 to 14 hours when fans are slower and one can’t operate the air conditioner or cooler in the house during the afternoon, he said. “Power demand has increased in the last five years but the power supply has not increased in terms of that,” the officer said.
The Congress has announced a movement against Manikchak’s electricity problem. Former Congress MLA Mottakin Alam said, “We have called for a gherao movement of the electricity office from July 22.” Stating that people are frustrated and the Malda administration is a total failure, Alam said, “If the power department cannot solve the problem, we will lock the electricity distribution office during our dharna.”
The CPM has called for a 12-hour Manikchak bandh on Friday to protest against the firing. Most of the shops in the Enayetpur area where police fired on the mob were closed since this morning.
According to police, the opposition leader’s call for movement also instigated the violence. “We are investigating the whole matter and upon identifying who instigated such violence, they will not be spared,” said a state police officer.
The power department officials claimed that they were aware of Manikchak’s electricity problem. Stating that such a problem cannot be solved within a day or a month, a senior official of the power department said, “A sub-station is already being constructed at Manikchak and the work will be completed by next October. After that this problem will not exist anymore.”
Five persons, including three policemen, were injured in the area on Thursday, during protests over prolonged power outages. Two residents were allegedly injured in police firing that was intended to disperse a stone-pelting mob. The Manikchak police station Inspector-in-Charge (IC) and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) are among the three injured policemen. Among five, three are seriously injured and have been admitted to Malda Medical College.
Residents had blocked roads at 10 locations on Thursday morning, police said. When police intervened to clear the traffic, the locals refused to lift the blockade, started hurling stones at the police team and vandalised police vehicles, said Yadav.
Later, the Rapid Action Force was called in and it dispersed the mob, Yadav said, adding that police had to open fire in self defence while trying to lift the blockade. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has ordered an inquiry and sought a report on the open fire.