CPM-led rowdies unleash terror in Sujapur

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 31: In the name of a ‘peace committee’ a group of people led by the CPI-M has been terrorising the Sujapur area with the help of hooligans, said the district Congress president and Sujapur MLA, Ms Rubi Noor. Addressing a press conference, Ms Rubi Noor said: “The CPI-M workers attacked at least 12 houses including that of our Congress gram panchayat pradhan at Masimpur and Bamongram villages last evening. The CPI-M workers harassed our people when they denied to attend a peace meeting called by them. The gram panchayat pradhan, Mr Ataur Rahaman did not attend their meeting yesterday”. According to the Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, local villagers called the peace meeting to restore normalcy in the area yesterday afternoon. Trouble broke out when a group of people expressed unhappiness over the absence of the gram panchayat pradhan at the all-political party meeting. “A motor bike and a television set were damaged at the house of the pradhan. Police have asked him to lodge a complaint with Kaliachak police station. If they lodge complaint, police would start a case," the Malda SP said. According to him, locals took initiative to restore peace in Sujapur area. In fact hundreds of students took initiative to bring peace in Sujapur on Saturday. They took out a rally and staged a demonstration in front of the police station regarding the issue of a student who was shot at during exchange of fire between the two groups of criminals last week. Ms Noor alleged that police were silent spectators while criminals backed by the CPI-M continued to harass the Congress workers. Mr Bandyopadhyay, however said: “Police are very much active against these notorious criminals and their associates. Had police remained silent, local people would not have come forward to bring peace. A group of miscreants, who used to extort local traders there, are still absconding, fearing arrest by police.”“The Congress leaders were not involved in any anti social activities there. CPIM workers are trying to capture the Congress strongholds before the panchayat election,”, Ms. Rubi Noor told reporters today.The CPIM district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, is however of the opinion that unrest in Sujapur is not a political issue.“Common people including local traders led by Mr. Ketabuddin, CPIM local committee secretary, had protested against extortion and anti-social activities in the area. Recently three gang leaders, Mirajul Basni, Tuhur Biswas and Saharul Islam had united themselves to extort local traders and people in Sujapur area”, said Mr Jiban Moitra.