Scuffle erupts among Matuas in Bangaon HQ

Kolkata: A major scuffle broke out among the Matuas on Wednesday in Thakurnagar - the Matua headquarters in Bangaon - during which some community members were injured over Union minister Shantanu Thakur's remarks on the deletion of one lakh Matua names under the Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal.

Amid apprehensions over name deletions, a factional war has been brewing within the community between the Trinamool-backed group and Thakur's supporters.

On Wednesday, the Trinamool supporters protested at Thakurbari, demanding clarification from Thakur, who is also Matua Mahasangha chief, over his comments.


The Trinamool leadership also attacked Thakur for claiming to be the "custodian of Matuas" and as the party slammed him for running "sham CAA camps in exchange for money" and staying absent during the enumeration phase of SIR.

Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur had announced a protest programme over Thakur's comments, which led to a scuffle between the different Matua factions. Later, a huge police force, led by the SDPO, reached the spot to control the situation. "There is a limit to lies. The Matuas went to protest in front of his house as he commented about the deletion of one lakh Matuas," Mamatabala Thakur said. "Hindu cards were given to the Matuas in lieu of money by Shantanu Thakur. Why was the CAA promised by him?" she asked.

Clarifying his stand, Shantanu Thakur said, "While weeding out the people, if names of any refugee names are deleted, if anything negative happens, we have to accept it. I have said 'if names are deleted' and it is not correct to say names will be deleted."

BJP Haringhata MLA Asim Sarkar, "I don't agree with Thakur's comment. We want an order from the MHA assuring the community, and I don't agree with the MP. Why will one lakh names get deleted? Not a single Matua name should be deleted."