TMC suspends panchayat member over distribution of cyclone relief funds

Kolkata, June 23 (IANS) A panchayat samity member in West Bengal's South 24-Parganas district was suspended from Trinamool Congress after he apologised in public on Tuesday in front of hundreds of angry villagers over the disbursement of relief to the Amphan-affected.At Mathurapur village, angry villagers held Swapan Kumar Ghatu and questioned him on cyclone relief funds in the presence of police and block development officials.Ghatu allegedly accepted his 'mistake' and publicly sought forgiveness by pulling his ears. According to district Trinamool Congress sources, the panchayat samity member has been suspended from the party for an indefinite period.Meanwhile, the district administration has initiated the process to scrutinise the list of Amphan-affected villagers eligible for relief. The district administration will also review the list of those who have already received aid from the state for cyclonic disaster."If necessary, we will ask for refund from villagers who were not affected by the cyclonic storm," sources said.
--IANS sbn/tsb