Even before the dust of the Left rally at the Brigade Parade ground settles down, two trees were found completely burnt in the Maidan on Tuesday night.

After the Sunday’s rally, the Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the court administration to serve a showcause notice to the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPM, asking it why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against it as it had violated the 2007 order of the court for holding rallies at the Brigade Parade ground.

In 2007, the HC had banned burning of leaves and use of open ovens at the ground.

“Two trees adjacent to the Lady’s Golf Club have been burnt completely. Two fire-engines were rushed to the place after the trees caught fire on Tuesday midnight and a major fire was averted,” Gopal Bhattacharya, Director of Fire and Emergency services, said.

The Army, the custodian of the Maidan, appears to be unaware of the development. “We are yet to inspect the area. Subsequently, we will initiate a legal action and file an FIR because damaging a tree on the Maidan is an offence,” said a defence spokesperson.

The Kolkata Police has already initiated a probe into the incident. “Last night two trees suddenly caught fire. A tree cannot catch fire on its own. There must be some mischief behind the incident. We have started an investigation and the offenders will be arrested,” said Pradip Chatterjee, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).

Environmentalist Subhas Dutta has ruled out the possibility of an accident behind the fire. “Some anti-social elements are certainly involved in the incident,” he said.