BJP internal rift over Phulbari sand mining leads to arrest

Internal disputes within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surfaced in the Mahananda Barrage area near Phulbari in Siliguri regarding ongoing sand mining operations. On Friday morning, a faction within the party staged a protest and halted the sand mining activities completely. Local party members raised concerns about the management of sand extraction in the region.

Details of the sand extraction controversy

The sand was being collected through dredging near the intake well of the Public Health Engineering Department. This sand was intended for use in national highway construction projects. However, allegations were made that the sand was being illegally transported and sold instead of being used for the designated government work. Critics claimed that this illegal activity resulted in a significant loss of government revenue.

Allegations against party leaders

Matiur Rahman, a leader from the BJP Minority Morcha, publicly alleged that certain influential party leaders are involved in the illegal sand trade. He claimed that these individuals are profiting from the unauthorized movement of sand. He further alleged that approximately 75 dumpers were loaded with sand without paying royalties or obtaining proper government permits on Friday morning alone.

Police intervention and legal action

Following reports of the protest, the New Jalpaiguri police arrived at the site to control the situation. During the operation, the police seized two dumpers along with a laptop, a printer, and a diary containing financial records. One person has been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the incident, as reported by Hindusthan Samachar.