Horrific Attack in West Bengal

In a horrific attack on CPI(M) activists who were coming to join a rally protesting attack on senior Party leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah, Trinamool Congress goons indiscriminately fired and burnt the vehicles carrying people. The gruesome incident took place in Bamanghata, in the outskirts of Kolkata today. At least three CPI(M) activists with serious bullet injuries have been admitted in hospital while some more received grievous injuries. 8 trucks and mini trucks were burnt and four more were ransacked. The entire attack was led by Arabul Islam, a TMC strongman and former MLA, the prime accused in the attack on Rezzak Mollah. Hundreds of people from Bhangar and adjoining areas in South 24 Parganas were coming to a rally in Kolkata to demand the arrest of Arabul. TMC activists were well prepared for the attack. Eye witnesses told media that Arabul himself started firing from his revolver and then TMC activists began to fire forcing people to run for shelter. Police reached the spot much later. Some injured fled to villages and could not be brought to hospital till evening.

Meanwhile, thousands of people marched to Alipore in Kolkata, the headquarters of South 24 Parganas district administration at the call of Left Front. The rally was called to demand arrest of Arabul Islam and other criminals who attacked Rezzak Mollah on Sunday. In the huge rally, Left Front leaders including Suryakanta Misra, opposition leader, criticized the state government for allowing mayhem in the state. Left Front leaders met Superintendent of Police and asked his explanation for not arresting the criminals.

Left Front chairman Biman Basu condemned the attack in Bamanghata, saying the democracy in the state is now under threat. Left Front will organize processions all over the state on Wednesday. A central rally will be organized in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon.

In the writers Building, the state secretariat, Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee defended the attack on CPI(M) but hurried to flee away from media persons without answering any questions.

Member of the West Bengal State Committee of CPI(M), veteran leader of the peasant movement, present MLA of Canning East constituency and former Minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah was assaulted and beaten up by a group of Trinamool Congress hooligans, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday, 6th January, 2013. Rezzak Mollah went to visit a Party office which was ransacked and burnt down by the TMC goons on Saturday. Arabul Islam himself along with other miscreants attacked him. The senior leader was hit on the eye, lips and stomach. His vehicle was also badly damaged. The local Party comrades rescued him. He was admitted to a private nursing home. The state administration, in the most inhuman manner, pressurized the hospital to discharge Rezzak Mollah even before he was treated properly. On Monday, the hospital authorities declared that except stitches in the inner portion of his mouth, there is no injury to Rezzak. But in a great embarrassment for them, the scan report of the same hospital showed on Tuesday that he had a fracture in his waist.

CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu said that the party strongly condemned the “barbaric” attack on Rezzak Mollah. Describing the incident as the latest instance of the continuing violence by Trinamool Congress against CPI(M), the Left parties and the opposition, he pointed out that the democratic rights of individuals are under constant threat in the State and demanded immediate arrest of TMC goons responsible for the incident.

Instead of condemning the horrific attack, the TMC leader and state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said the incident was a minor one and in a way legitimized the attack. This has become a regular phenomenon in the state - where the ruling party and the administration always protect the attackers instead of the attacked persons. Attacks and extortion on the Party workers are on the rise. The TMC leaders perhaps have understood that if they allow people’s voice to spread then that will be disastrous for them in the coming Panchayat polls in West Bengal.