The office of the township after the ransack; (above) broken flowerpots strewn in front of the building following the attack. Pictures by Kundan Yolmo

Matigara (Siliguri), Feb. 7: The office of the Uttarayon Township was ransacked by a mob of 50 people this evening, apparently a sequel to a scuffle between security guards and local people at the complex yesterday.

Shards of glass and flowerpots were strewn at the entrance to the township following the attack on the office.

The management said complaints had been lodged with police in the past, as there were frequent incidents of local hooligans abusing the residents and employees of the township.

Sources said a woman guard had been injured during an altercation between the private security personnel and some local youths at the complex yesterday.

“A group of hoodlums yesterday forcibly tried to use a non-commissioned elevator at the City Centre which is under construction. When a guard on duty tried to confront the outsiders, a quarrel ensued. Punnya Khawas, a woman security guard, tried to intervene and disperse both the groups. But the goons roughed her up and she was admitted to a nursing home with injuries,” P.K.Sinha, the general manager (marketing) of Ambuja Realty Development Limited, said today.

The company is a subsidiary of the Calcutta-based Ambuja Group.

Following the assault, the management filed a complaint with Matigara police.

Around 5.30pm today, more than 50 people reached the locality and started abusing the security men and staff members.

“Soon, some of them picked flowerpots kept outside the building and hurled them at glass walls. The office, a customer care centre and a kiosk used by security guards right at the entrance to the township were damaged,” said a company official.

The employees seated at the office, though taken aback initially by the attack, called up Matigara police and informed them about the incident. The mob dispersed as residents of the township started rushing to the spot.

Sinha alleged that hooligans were often creating problems at the township. “We have reports that these miscreants often cause disturbances to the residents of the township and the staff by indecent activities. As they bashed our security guard yesterday and a police complaint was lodged, we suspect that they retaliated today by resorting to vandalism.”

The township, located 3km from here along NH31, is being developed jointly by the Bengal Ambuja Group and Laxmi Township Limited.

Gaurav Sharma, the additional superintendent of police, visited the township along with senior officers to probe the ransack.

“There has been an attack on Uttarayon. We have visited the spot and posted a police picket to prevent further attacks,” said Sharma. “We have received complaints and are investigating the case. Raids are on to nab the attackers,” he added.