Siliguri: Trinamul leaders and workers are concerned over the alleged high-handedness of land sharks active in areas under the constituency of state tourism minister Gautam Deb.

The pockets are on the outskirts of Siliguri and Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district. These are part of Deb's Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly seat.

"These people have indulged in activities like illegal land deals, forcible acquisition of land and pressurising genuine owners to part with land at lower rates. They have become so strong in these days that they are not even thinking twice to attack even our local party leaders in case they are voicing protests. We are deeply perturbed over the highhandedness of these groups," said a Trinamul leader based in Fulbari.

Locals say that there are several instances as how these people are grabbing land and selling those at higher prices.

"They approach land owners, whether they are locals or stay outside, and put pressure on them to hand over the land at lower prices to them. Otherwise, they threaten to take physical possession of the land and also manages to come up with forged papers to prove their ownership," said a source in Trinamul.

A few weeks back, Sikha Chatterjee, a prominent woman Trinamul leader of Dabgram-Fulbari, was assaulted by a group of people who are into such illegal activities.

"She had protested after a resident, who owns a piece of land, was forcibly evicted from his place by these people," another resident said.

The reason for such activities, observers pointed, is because of the high rate of population growth in and around Siliguri.

Back in 2011, the estimated population of Siliguri was 5.13 lakhs while that of the Siliguri metropolitan area was 7.05 lakhs.

"The decennial growth rate is around 40 per cent, meaning, a rise of four per cent in a year. This means, the population is close to nine lakhs now," said an observer.

As a result, the demand for land in the suburbs of Siliguri continues to remain steady, and is creating an opportunity for these syndicates.

"There are cases when these people have sold the same land to more than one person to earn extra money. It was the buyers who had to face the loss," sources said.

Altogether, the activities of such groups or syndicates have left Trinamul leaders worried, particularly because the rural elections are ahead.

"Locals are fed up with these people and want stern steps to be taken against them. We have elaborated it before our district level leaders and have sought their intervention," said a leader.

According to him, if these syndicates are not reined, there are chances that people might defect during elections.

"BJP has initiated political activities in localities under the Assembly seat and have picked up the issue. If no prompt steps are taken from the administration's side, it would further complicate the situation for us before the panchayat elections," the leader added.

That the situation has turned grave was evident from the remarks of the state tourism minister. Recently, while attending a programme of Youth Trinamul, he had asserted that "land grabbing" will not be allowed.

"The minister tried to send a message to common people and also these syndicates. But people want to see that it has proved to be effective in curbing such illegal activities. This is the challenge for him and the party," said an observer.