Fire at printing press sparks political row
The Statesman | 24 October 2025According to fire department officials, the blaze started around 8 a.m. inside the printing press and spread quickly because of inflammable materials stored in the premises, including empty oil containers. Six fire engines were deployed to douse the flames, which were brought under control after nearly an hour and a half of effort. No casualties were reported, officials said, adding that cooling operations were continuing.
“The fire spread rapidly due to the presence of lubricant oil containers inside the press,” a fire official said. “The entire area was covered in thick smoke, but the situation is now fully under control and all residents are safe.” While fire officials began probing the cause of the incident, local politics soon flared up on the street. Trinamul Congress councillor of Ward 38, Sadhana Basu, who rushed to the spot, alleged that the fire was not accidental but the result of a “conspiracy” linked to real estate interests.
“There was a promoter’s plan to take over this property. Since I opposed it, this fire appears to have been deliberately set,” Basu alleged. She claimed she had earlier been approached by local promoters to approve a redevelopment proposal but had laid down conditions that all existing occupants must be accommodated.
“After that, they stopped approaching me,” she said, adding that stalls and lighting arrangements in the area had been made without her permission. Basu pointed fingers at local BJP leader Tamoghna Ghosh, accusing him of backing those activities. “Who set up the stalls here? Where did all these lights come from?” she asked. Ghosh, who is also a resident of the area, dismissed the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated.” “Since morning, we have been helping in rescue operations as local residents,” he said. “This is wild imagination. Instead of playing politics, everyone should focus on helping those affected.” The fire, though contained, has reignited political sparring in the locality as investigators work to determine its exact cause.
