Man asks for Rs 5k paid ‘to get on Awas list’ back, killed
Times of India | 2 December 2024
12 Behrampore: A 53-year-old man was assaulted by a Raghunathganj villager for asking for his Rs 5,000 back on Saturday evening and succumbed to his injuries at NRS Medical College and Hospital a day later. The victim, Atiur Seikh alias Kalu Seikh, had paid the amount in order to be made an Awas Yojana beneficiary.
Villagers blocked roads and set tyres on fire to protest the death. The agitation only ended when police arrested the accused, Abdul Latif alias Mithun Seikh. As the opposition claimed Latif was a Trinamool Congress worker, TMC said he was not an office-bearer.
The incident took place at Mukundapur village under Trinamool-run Mithipur gram panchayat in Raghunathganj. Locals took Atiur to Jangipur Superspecialty Hospital on Saturday night. He was referred to NRS in Kolkata, where he died on Sunday morning. As the news spread, tension gripped the area. Police rushed to the spot and promised action against the accused.
Atiur's widow Tahmina said: "He gave Rs 5,000 as a first instalment to Abdul Latif for the inclusion of his name on the Awas Yojana list. However, we found the name missing, so my husband went to his house to get back the money. But Latif beat him with a rod and sticks. We want capital punishment for the culprit."
Raghunathganj MLA and junior power minister Akhruzzaman said: "We are sympathetic to the victim's family and told police to take action, and the accused has been arrested. The administration has brought transparency to Awas Yojana beneficiary lists, so nobody has the power to add or remove names."