CPM man murdered , tension runs high in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 27: Anwar Hossain (26), a CPI-M supporter, was shot dead in his shop at Nawda Jadupur under Kaliachak police station this morning.

To avenge the murder, the victim's relatives blocked the National Highway 34, torched more than three houses and lynched a 55-year-old man, Atabuddin.

Traffic on NH-34 remained suspended for three hours. A large contingent of police was deployed to defuse tension in the sensitive villages in Nawda Jadupur gram panchayat after the incident.

Although the CPI-M and Congress leadership said that the incident was nothing more than a clash between two gangs of goon, it turned out to be a political clash.

The CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said that the police's role had been far from satisfactory. “Despite several written complaints to arrest goons at Nawda Jadupur gram panchayat, police did not arrest them. Even after locals' identification, police seemed least interested to arrest the goons. As a result the goons move around freely,” Mr Moitra said.

He said: “We had been urging police to arrest those goons since the Sujapur by-polls but the actions are yet to be taken.”

The Congress leadership, however, rejected the CPI-M's allegation. The Congress leadership including the Sujapur MLA and sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad blamed the CPI-M for creating trouble with the help of criminals in many areas in Kaliachak.

The Congress blamed the CPI-M for the murder of Wahed Ali at Sujapur on 21 January and attack on the sabhadhipati's father at Shershahi in Kaliachak on 25 January. “The assault attempt on my father was a political move by the CPI-M,” said Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, sabhadhipati Malda zilla parishad.

Rubbishing the allegations, the CPI-M leadership said that Jamshed, who is a known criminal, fired at Anwar Hossain this morning. In retaliation, Bakul, who is a relative of Anwar attacked the opponents. The criminals hurled bombs at each other and fired several rounds.

The Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, said that police were keeping a cautious eye on the situation. No one has, however, been arrested in connection to the hostilities so far.