Bengal: LIC approaches police to reclaim land from Biswas brothers

Kolkata: Former state minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas, who was arrested yesterday over extortion and molestation charges, have been accused of forcibly occupying 21 kathas of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) land to hold their community Durga Puja for Suruchi Sangha.

Officials of the insurance company approached Alipore police station on Saturday to reclaim their land and lodged a complaint in this regard. The incident has raised questions about the future of Suruchi Sangha’s puja, which is one of the most popular Durga Pujas in Kolkata.

Durga Puja is organised every year by the Suruchi Sangha Club, known as the home of Aroop Biswas and Swarup Biswas. Police have already arrested Swarup on multiple charges, including harassment and extortion.

Following his arrest, an agitated crowd entered the Suruchi Sangha Club yesterday and vandalised it extensively.

In this atmosphere, LIC alleged that the Biswas brothers have been forcibly occupying their 21 katha land for many years. The Suruchi Sangha’s Durga Puja is being held on that land. There have also been allegations of illegal construction of a club there, completely surrounding the land. Now, the insurance company officials have approached the police to recover the land. They have approached the Alipore police station regarding this, the police said.

LIC officials stated that attempts to recover the land had been made several times previously. LIC also approached the court regarding this. However, those attempts failed, and LIC did not regain the land.

The insurance company officials further alleged that illegal construction has been done on this land. This three-storey house has multiple bedrooms. LIC officials said that such construction has been carried out on their land in complete violation of the law.

There have been multiple allegations of corruption against the Suruchi Sangha, led by the Biswas brothers. It is also alleged that government goods were stockpiled in this club through roundabout means.

A large number of bottles of government water, ‘Pranadhara,’ were found in another room next to the clubhouse. In addition, a large number of saris were also found for relief. Locals have alleged widespread fraud after seeing this. There has also been controversy over the presence of bedrooms in the club.

IANS