2007 West Bengal food riots

2007 food riots in West Bengal are the riots that occurred in 2007 inWest Bengal state in India over shortage of food and wide spread corruption in public distribution system. The riots initially occurred in Burdwan, Bankura and Birbhum districts but later spread to other districts. The riots first started on September 16, 2007 in Radhamohanpur village in Bankura district. That morning few CPI(M) leaders were lecturing the villagers on the dangers of the Indo-US nuclear agreement. They were shouted down and asked to provide foodgrains by the villagers. When CPI(M) leaders tried to shoo them away the angry villagers beat CPI-M leaders and burnt their flags. The police opened fire to quell the mob.

This news of the protest and firing spread and within a day the people across the state came out against corrupt ration dealers and party leaders. Subsequently hundreds of ration shop owners were attacked and their shops and houses looted. At many places, CPI(M) leaders born the brunt of public anger. Police shot and killed three villagers during the riots and more than 300 villagers were injured in riots. At least three ration distributors committed suicide.

"For years, they have been cheating us," said a weeping Arjina Bibi in Burdwan, as she stood next to her three hungry children. "

The state government took damage-control measures and suspended 113 dealers and served show-cause notices to 37 food inspectors.

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