A senior Trinamul MLA based in Malda, Samar Mukherjee, has written to senior officers of the state police, alleging that a section of police officers working in the district as well as in his constituency Ratua, were hand in glove with people involved in the illegal extraction of sand and soil from rivers flowing through the district.

Mukherjee, a five-time MLA from Ratua, has sent letters to the superintendent of police of Malda, the deputy inspector general of Malda range and to the additional director general (law and order) of the state, seeking their intervention and removal of some police officers.

“I have specific information that some police officers here are hand in glove with the mafias who illegally take out sand and soil from rivers. Time and again, I have spoken with the officers, asking them to take steps against these groups but they have hardly paid any heed to me. The inaction of cops and the highhandedness of these groups have compelled me to send written complaints to senior police officers,” said Mukherjee.

According to the veteran MLA, the NH131A, which connects Malda with Katihar district of Bihar via Nakatti bridge over Fulahar river, is a very important road used by thousands on both the states every day.

“For past few months, we have found that people are illegally extracting sand and soil from the river and riverbed from 1am to 5am. I passed an alert to local police officers but they turned a blind eye to the crime,” Mukherjee, who is also chairman of Malda district Trinamul, said.

Last year, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had taken the decision to change the policy for extraction of minor minerals like sand, stones and pebbles to prevent people from evading royalty that the state earns by leasing out riverbeds.

Mamata had made it clear that tenders for leases would be issued at the state level and not at the level of the district administration.

“When such allegations are levelled by a veteran MLA and party leader, it is evident that the illegal extraction is still going on,” said a Trinamul insider.

Sabina Yeasmin. File photo

Sabina Yeasmin, the minister of state for north Bengal development and irrigation, took up the task to alert Trinamul workers so that they refrain from illegal extraction of sand and soil.

“Some of our leaders in panchayats are helping people to draw soil from the rivers, which in turn, is being used in illegal brick kilns. We have identified them and if this continues, the party will take stringent measures against such leaders,” said Yeasmin, who is also a Trinamul MLA from Malda.

“We also want the police and officers of the irrigation department to take proper steps against them, irrespective of their political identity,” she added.

Mukherjee’s letters and Yeasmin’s assertions have nudged the administration and the police into action.

Alok Rajoria, the DIG of Malda range, said they were looking into the issue.

“We are gathering information with regard to the complaint filed by the Ratua MLA. The SP of Malda has been asked to look into the issue,” he said.