CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty was detained by police on Tuesday for staging a protest in front of a food festival being organised by West Bengal government at New Town area in the north-eastern fringes of the city.
A police officer said Chakraborty was detained and taken to New Town police station after he led a handful of party activists to the venue of the fair 'Ahare Bangla' at New Town and started a demonstration in front of the main gate.
An estimated 125 food stalls have come up at 'Ahare Bangla' 2018, a food festival organised by the West Bengal government beginning Tuesday.
The protesters were holding placards against the food festival. The placards read "when people in the Jangalmahal belt are dying of starvation, this government organises Ahare Bangla."
A large police force swung into action and put Chakraborty into a vehicle and took him to New Town police station.
The CPI(M) leader was heard shouting, "This government is holding food festival in the city and wasting crores even as tribals are dying of starvation at Jangal Mahal belt in West Midnapore. Shame with them."
Last week, media reports had suggested that seven people of Sabar community, in Junglemahal area of Jhargram district, have died due to starvation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday refuted the reports as "fabricated" and said the deaths either resulted from "age-related ailments" or "excessive liquor consumption".
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