Farmer Fury Scorches Dream Land

The air was thick with the pungent smell of burnt thatch and bamboo. Walls were covered with soot and window sills broken. Metal bars lay twisted in the heat. There was no roof and the floor was strewn with broken glass, stagnant water and half-burnt straw. Outside, stacks of straw floated on the waterbodies... This is how the main block of Vedic Village looked on Monday, after a mob rampaged through it and set the picturesque complex on fire.
Had the violence spread to other parts the damage would have been extensive. Luckily for the owners, the violence spared the bungalows and the cottages which are rented out. Still, over 30% of the landscaped campus is in ruins.
All the four gates that lead to the complex remained shut throughout the day. After a wait of nearly five hours, we were finally allowed to step inside the complex. Security was tight and no vehicles apart from those driven by the owners were allowed. The handful of guests and bungalow owners who stayed overnight were kept out of sight.
More than 24 hours after the frenzied attack, the staff and authorities at Vedic Village the luxury bungalow-cum-spa resort, some 35 km from Kolkata were still picking up the pieces and making the moves for a fresh beginning. Sunday's act of violence was largely concentrated on the main complex and it will take some time before it is restored to its original shape.
Close to the main complex are cottages 104 & 105, where Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had spent some days while shooting for Mani Ratnam's Ravana, earlier this year. The cottages have remained unscathed though some of the neighbouring ones were scorched.
The main complex, spread over 4,000 sq feet had a library, the main reception counter, the check-out counter, two spas, two conference rooms, gymnasium, restaurant and bar. Everything has been reduced to ashes. There is nothing to show how the complex looked on Sunday afternoon.
The library had over 5,000 books and magazines. The floor of the library is still inundated with the water used by firemen to put out the blaze. The staff has no clue how many books, if any, survived the attack. "We haven't been able to check yet," said an employee.
The two conference rooms Om 2 and 3 have been gutted. Only the skeletons of upturned, burnt chairs remain to remind that the rooms were once used for high-profile meetings and business deals. The gymnasium is the only block in the building which wasn't affected.
On Sunday evening, the first wave of attack was on the main complex, beginning with the reception counter that was ransacked and smashed. Everything made of glass was blasted to smithereens. The mob then poured petrol and set the building on fire. Burning torches were hurled on to the thatched roof, which started blazing like an inferno.
The mob then turned towards the bungalows lined up towards one end of Vedic Village. Thankfully, the owners had all been taken to safety. "Right after we heard the gunshots, the guests were taken out of their rooms to a safe place," said a staff. The mob then returned to the main auditorium. Wall-hangings and decorative items were thrown about and broken.
Most of Monday was spent in assessing this damage. Repairs would start soon, said officials. While some of the owners of the bungalows remained inside the complex on Monday, most of the guests had left on Sunday night itself.