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Forward Bloc to intensify movement against ‘land grabbing’ in Howrah

Farid Mollah, a farmer leader of AIFB, said the issue would be one of the key points of discussion during the two-day state conference (June 14-15) of the party’s farmers’ wing, that was held in Cooch Behar

2 min readKolkataJun 15, 2025 04:53 AM IST

In a letter to the District Magistrate, the local Forward Bloc leaders have alleged that a group of land mafias, with some “administrative backing”, are active in the Panchla area

The farmers’ front of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) on Saturday said that they will sharpen their movement against alleged land grabbing in Howrah’s Panchla block.

Farid Mollah, a farmer leader of AIFB, said the issue would be one of the key points of discussion during the two-day state conference (June 14-15) of the party’s farmers’ wing, that was held in Cooch Behar. “We have repeatedly urged the Howrah District Magistrate to take action against land grabbers, but no steps have been taken by the administration,” he said.

In a letter to the District Magistrate, the local Forward Bloc leaders have alleged that a group of land mafias, with some “administrative backing”, are active in the Panchla area.

“These people are filling fertile agricultural land with fly ash to convert it into highland, making it unfit for cultivating paddy and other essential crops,” the letter claimed.

The party, in its letter, alleged that there is a nexus between land grabbers, anti-social elements, and sections of the block administration, allegedly backed by the ruling party. The letter urged the administration to “excavate a branch canal from Sahpara to Dighirpar and Mallik Bagan to restore irrigation facilities” and allow farmers to resume cultivation. “We urge you to take strict action against the land grabbers and those complicit within the administration to prevent illegal activities in the area,” it read.

Mollah said the trend of agricultural land being encroached upon for real estate and fisheries business is not limited to Howrah. “This is the situation across Bengal. Agricultural land is vanishing, the government is turning a blind eye. We’ll intensify our movement against this,” he said. He criticised the Centre’s agricultural policies, pointing out the absence of a separate agricultural budget. “Central government is anti-farmers. They’re cutting funds for schemes like MGNREGA. We will protest against this too,” he added.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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