Siliguri, September 09 (Siliguri Chronicle) – Residents of Ward 14 in Siliguri gathered outside Mayor Gautam Deb’s home on Thursday morning to protest the removal of their councillor, Sraboni Dutta, from her post as a member of the mayor-in-council (MMIC) of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.
On Sunday night, councillor Sraboni Dutta and her daughter were involved in an altercation with residents in Ashrampara. Sources said the incident took place after the immersion of Ganesh idols, when Dutta and her daughter reached the locality and got into a heated exchange with some people there.
Witnesses said Dutta stepped out of her car, chased a few people and got into a scuffle before leaving. A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting the Trinamool-led civic body to remove her from the mayor-in-council. Mayor Gautam Deb announced the decision on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Dutta’s supporters alleged that the mayor acted in haste without holding a proper inquiry. They argued that Dutta had worked with commitment and should not have been removed without being given a chance to explain her side.
Trinamool insiders said Mayor Gautam Deb had briefed the party leadership in Calcutta about the incident, and the decision to remove Dutta was taken to uphold public trust in the civic body.
However, residents who met the mayor on Thursday said they wanted a proper probe into the matter.
“We believe injustice has been done to the councillor and want a proper probe. The civic authorities, we believe, have handled the case in a one-sided manner,” said a resident of ward 14.
Deb, when asked about the demand of the residents, was brief in his reaction. “Residents appealed for an impartial inquiry. We are looking into it,” he said.
Later in the day, Dutta, who had overseen midday meals, parks and gardens, and child and mother care in the mayor-in-council, questioned the fairness of her removal. She said supporters and well-wishers had been visiting her home since Monday, urging her to challenge the decision.
“The mayor acted on a single version of the events without weighing my side of the story,” she said.
The controversy has divided opinion in Ward 14, with some residents praising Dutta for her work while others backed the mayor’s decision, sources said.
“It is yet another loss of face for the ruling party. For the past few weeks, Trinamool in Siliguri has been struggling to contain grievances. Even some councillors of the party are speaking against the ruling board at the SMC,” said an observer.
