On Saturday, as people of Manicktala were protesting the filling of a pond by a private group, Chakraborty rushed to the spot only to side with the latter. He reportedly ordered the locals not to stall the work and left the site. A residential complex, a five-star hotel and a hospital are to come up at the site.

The protesters, however, got into a clash with the promoters’ armed security guards, who fired six rounds in the air. Four persons were injured and police arrested 11 people, including six security guards, and slapped an attempt to murder charge against them.

“We have arrested the security guards and employees of the promoter, Mani Group. Promoters’s security men fired six rounds in the air. There were also five dogs of the promoters at the site,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarter) Vineet Goyel.The promoters, meanwhile, alleged that the locals attacked their men at the site. In a statement, Sakyasen Mittra, of the Mani Group, said, “The Mani Group has bought the land from the owners in 2005. All the records during this period describe the area of contention as either ‘Land’ or ‘Paddy Land’. Around 20-odd

people stormed into the premises and started beating up the labourers. One person was injured.”

“The promoters men had dogs with them. They beat up aged, retired persons,” said Shibani Mondol, a retired teacher staying at the housing complex.

Queries revealed that the water body located at 32, Canal Circular Road under Manicktala police station was declared a ‘jheel’ by Kolkata Municipal Corporation in 1987.

The locals, mainly residents of Purbasha Housing Complex, began a stir under the leadership of CPM MLA and councillor Rupa Bagchi, began a stir when Mani Group, which is said to have bought the land, began filling the pond.

A fresh flare-up took place on Saturday morning after the minister’s intervention.

“The promoters tried to fill up the land in front of minister Subhas Chakraborty and we protested. He ordered us to go away, saying it was a government project. He then left the spot and the promoter’s men attacked us, beating us and firing blank shots,” said S K Patranabis, president, Purbasha Abasik Samity.

Meanwhile, a huge contingent of policemen led by senior officers reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

“We are trying to save the water body which has been there for years. For the past six months the promoter is trying to fill up the jheel for construction. Two weeks ago, MiC’s of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation visited the spot and a “stop work” notice was issued. When I called up the police, they told me that the transport minister is there and that they were helpless,” said Rupa Bagchi.