Sports dept locks out ex-CM brothers from stadium rooms

Kolkata: The sports and youth affairs department on Thursday launched a drive to clear allegedly illegal occupation inside the Rabindra Sarobar stadium, broke locks with police assistance and reclaimed multiple rooms that officials claimed remained under unauthorised use by Trinamool functionaries close to former chief minister Mamata Banerjee.The move came after state sports minister Nisith Pramanik on Tuesday said all illegally occupied rooms at sports stadiums would be vacated and sports infrastructure would be restored. Officials on Thursday replaced old locks with new ones after taking possession of the rooms. Among the rooms were those allegedly used by Kalighat Sports Lovers Association, linked to the former CM's brother, Swapan Banerjee (Babun), a space, allegedly occupied by Vivek Club, linked with another brother, Kartik Banerjee, and a room, allegedly linked to Kalighat Milan Sangha, associated with Ajit Banerjee. A room used by Suruchi Sangha, linked to Swarup Biswas, brother of former sports minister Aroop Biswas, was also reclaimed.Pramanik has promised an overhaul of the venue, sports activity revival and upgrade of facilities. "The stadium will be renovated and an Olympic-standard athletics track will be built," he said. Residents welcomed the move. "Nearly 300 youngsters who practise here had no place to rest," a resident said.