Date:03/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/03/stories/2007100362311700.htm

National

Violence continues in Birbhum disrict

Staff Reporter

Kolkata: Violence continued for the second day in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Tuesday, with locals agitating against alleged malpractices in the public distribution system.

Ration dealers’ houses were set on fire and road blocks set up in various parts, following Monday’s incident in which one person was killed and several others were injured when the police fired to disperse protesting villagers.

It is reported the villagers also torched a portion of the Block Development Officer’s office, a panchayat samiti office and a police vehicle. There were also reports of widespread looting and ransacking of ration shops.

The situation was “potentially explosive,” said M. Sarkar, Additional District Magistrate (General).