Protests over Cyclone Amphan relief distribution continue in many West Bengal areas

Protests continued to rock various Cyclone Amphan-hit parts of West Bengal for third consecutive day on Thursday, as agitators blocked ros and gheraoed government offices, accusing local TMC leership of indulging in corruption.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leership denied charge and said some isolated incidents were being used to malign party. Cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal on May 20, killing 96 people and leaving behind a trail of destruction.

protests continued a day after Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee formed a committee comprising representatives from all political parties to look into cyclone-relief works amid allegations of corruption and mismanment.

protests took place in various parts of East Midnapore, South and rth 24 Parganas districts -- three worst-hit areas of state -- with affected people taking out protest marches and gheraoing local BDO offices, demanding immediate distribution of relief materials.

In some areas of East Midnapore and rth 24 Parganas, locals thrashed TMC panchayat members, accusing m of indulging in nepotism and corruption in relief distribution.

In parts of Bongaon in rth 24 Parganas, house of a local TMC panchayat leer was ransacked and his family members were beaten up. protesters alleged that panchayat member was siphoning off funds and h indulged in nepotism while drawing up list of beneficiaries.

A huge police contingent reached area to control situation. Incidents of violence and protests against TMC panchayat leers have been more or less a regular affair in state for last few days and in some cases, party was forced to expel "corrupt" leers.

"Whenever we have received such complaints, action against corrupt party members have been taken. We cant shoot someone accused of corruption, at most, we can remove him from party," senior TMC leer and MLA Samir Chakraborty said.

On Wednesday, Banerjee warned those indulging in corruption and misappropriation of Amphan relief funds, saying strict action would be taken against m. opposition CPI(M) and BJP accused TMC leership of being involved in corruption in connection with distribution of relief material.

"se incidents prove that TMC leers are involved in corruption. People are very angry with state government for its mishandling of crisis," BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.

A few days ago, TMC h expelled a panchayat leer in South 24 Parganas after he submitted a list of 102 cyclone victims, of whom 91 were found to be eir his relatives or local party leers who were t affected by calamity.

(Photo Credit: PTI)