Narkeldanga slum fire: FIRs against councillor, goons
Times of India | 11 February 2025
123 Kolkata: A day after tensions flared up at Narkeldanga following a fire, leading to a clash between the councillor and the Trinamool faction opposed to him, the cops registered two FIRs in this regard. One of them names ward 36 councillor Sachin Kumar Singh.
Back at the site, more than two days after the fire at the slum on Canal (West) Road, the beleaguered families struggled to begin life afresh. While several moved in with relatives elsewhere, those forced to stay back wished they could get help from the govt to get a roof over their heads under the Banglar Bari scheme.
"We lost everything in the fire. We want alternative arrangements till we get a long-term solution under the Banglar Bari scheme as promised by mayor Firhad Hakim," said Sk Manawar (67), one of the 150-odd residents rendered homeless in the incident. Another victim, Parveen Bibi, said they got tarpaulin from the local councillor, who is also arranging food twice a day.
Meanwhile, the first FIR was lodged after a woman complained of harassment. "On Sunday, a local said she and her friends were harassed while crossing the area. They were attacked with rods, and their clothes were torn. A gold chain worth Rs 80,000 was reportedly snatched. She filed the complaint against Pappu, Hamid Khan, and Sikandar Khan," said an officer.
The other FIR was drawn up on the basis of a written complaint by followers of Haider Nawaz, listing six men, including the councillor. It was alleged that all six attacked locals with rods. The councillor denied the claim, saying: "This was a ploy by Pappu. He tried to implicate me as I stopped him from extorting people."