North 24-Parganas office vandalism has raised security concerns at the zilla parishad premises in Barasat after a group of around 40 to 50 people allegedly entered the office of sabhadhipati Narayan Goswami and damaged property on Monday afternoon. Police have begun an investigation, but no arrests have been made so far.
The group entered the office when Goswami was absent, according to employees cited in the report. They allegedly asked about his whereabouts before getting into an altercation with staff and entering his chamber. The incident took place at the office of the North 24-Parganas zilla parishad, a key district-level local government institution.
Employees said the group vandalised items inside the chamber. A cupboard was allegedly kicked open, damaging its doors, while articles kept in a showcase were scattered around the room. One employee, Asit Majumdar, said the group had demanded the keys to the cupboard.
Goswami’s personal assistant, Durga Sen Mallick, confirmed that the sabhadhipati was not present when the group arrived. Goswami, a former Trinamool Congress MLA, said he did not know why the incident had occurred or who was responsible.
A complaint has been lodged with the police, who are investigating the allegations. The report did not specify the sections under which the complaint was registered or whether investigators had identified any of the people involved. No arrests had been reported at the time of publication.
The alleged attack comes days after eggs were thrown at Goswami’s car. Following that incident, Goswami announced his intention to step down as sabhadhipati. The latest episode therefore adds to a sequence of disruptions involving the head of the district body, although the police investigation is yet to establish whether the two incidents are connected.
The vandalism also places attention on access control and staff safety at local government offices. Employees were present when the group entered the premises, and the alleged confrontation took place before the chamber was damaged. The available report does not provide details about security personnel, surveillance systems or arrangements for controlling visitors at the office.
The police investigation is expected to establish the identity of those involved, the reason for the alleged demand for cupboard keys and the extent of the property damage. Until those findings are available, the claims about the group’s motives and responsibility remain allegations. The immediate official development is the police probe following the complaint, with no arrests announced so far.
