Mehboob Alam, the Trinamul chief of Matikunda-I panchayat in North Dinajpur district who was arrested in a case related to the recent death of a civic volunteer, will be expelled from the party, district party president Kanaiyalal Agarwal said on Saturday.

The decision is expected to quell dissent within the party, as Islampur MLA Abdul Karim Choudhury who had earlier threatened to quit the post said he would stay on.

Mehboob, known to be close to Agarwal, had allegedly attacked party worker Shanawaj Alam’s home on Wednesday night during which 30-year-old civic volunteer Sakib Akhtar died. Shanawaj was a follower of Islampur MLA Choudhury.

“We have decided to expel Mehboob from the party,” Agarwal said about his close aide.

Mehboob was arrested on Friday.

Choudhury softened his stand. “Party president Mamata Banerjee has realised I was not wrong. I will remain with the party,” the MLA said on Saturday.

Check on illegal sand mining

The Matigara block administration of Siliguri sub-division will on Monday set up two check posts to prevent illegal mining of sand, pebbles and other materials from the Balason riverbed.

The development comes after two minors and a youth were buried alive at Tripalijote, Matigara, on March 6 while drawing sand from the riverbed.

Matigara BDO Shribas Biswas said: “It has been decided that there will be two checkpoints to prevent illegal mining.... One team will be placed at the Phansidewa More underpass and the other at Baniakhari.”

The decision was taken following a meeting by the BDO, Matigara police under Siliguri Metropolitan Police, block land and land reforms department officials and Matigara panchayat samiti representatives on Friday