Hundreds of women attack admin offices, pelt eggs in Howrah, Darjeeling over non-payment of Annapurna money

Howrah/Siliguri: Anger over the non-receipt of Annapurna Yojana funds led to protests on Tuesday, with women demonstrating near administrative offices and hurling eggs at officials in Howrah’s Shyampur and Domjur, and in Darjeeling’s Phansidewa.In Howrah’s Domjur, about 500 women armed with brooms and eggs, protested outside Kalora no. 2 panchayat office, complaining they had not received Annapurna benefits. The women locked the gate and kept the office closed for more than two hours, claiming the TMC-run panchayat office had only cleared applications of TMC supporters. The panchayat office denied the allegations.In another incident in the district, more than 100 angry women gathered at Shyampur block II office, attacked the staffers and hurled eggs at them.

The office was ransacked, and documents thrown around. Protesters claimed that none of the applicants who had submitted forms around June 3 and 4 had received Annapurna funds. The protest stopped only after district administration and police officials arrived at the scene and assured the women that they would soon receive the funds.

Protesters left the spot after giving the block development office a week’s time.

In Phansidewa, BSF personnel resorted to lathicharge, injuring several women who were protesting and hurled eggs outside the BDO office over non-receipt of Annapurna payments. The incident has sparked outrage, with protesters alleging that male BSF personnel used force against women, even with woman cops present at the spot. Two journalists were also allegedly injured.Naxalbari SDPO Soumyajit Roy reached the spot and brought the situation under control.