Govt officers fight before villagers

A scuffle was reported between the Lalgarh block development officer and an official of the district food department on Monday morning before the villagers.

A scuffle was reported between the Lalgarh block development officer and an official of the district food department on Monday morning before the villagers.

Officials from the sub-divisional food department were in Lalgarh on Monday morning to procure rice from the farmers. But the villagers told the Sub-Divisional Food Officer Pankaj Poddar that the department had not announced the timing and date of the procurement. It should have announced the procurement programme at least seven days ago, said the villagers.

The villagers gheraoed Poddar and heckled him. Subsequently, Lalgarh BDO Tanmay Mondal reached the spot.

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While Mondal blamed the food department officers for creating a scene, Poddar critised the BDO for his failure to inform the villagers about the procurement programme. Soon a scuffle ensued between the two officers.

The situation was brought under control after SDO Jhargram Tanmoy Chakraborty reached Lalgarh at noon and intervened. Finally the food department began the procurement of rice in the evening.

West Midnapore District Magistrate NS Nigam said the situation was caused by the mismanagement by the district administration.

In another development, tribal leaders from Dalilpur village held a meeting to decide on their course of action. Tribal leader Chattradhar Mahato said the villagers will block roads if the police conduct raids in villages unnecessarily. The police have began returning to their camps from Sunday.