Biker gangs terrorize CPM stronghold

Kolkata: There were indications about two weeks ago when biker gangs swarmed Shahid Smriti Colony in Panchasayer to threaten voters. Now, large swathes in Purba Jadavpur, Mukundapur and Panchasayer areas have lodged complaints alleging that Trinamool goons are knocking on their doors at unearthly hours and demanding that the residents - mostly Left supporters - hand over their voter ID cards before elections.
The intimidation is being led by 'Jai Hind Vahini' - a ragtag band of Trinamool toughs allegedly operating under an influential South 24-Paraganas Trinamool leader. Former CPM MP Sujan Chakraborty, the Jadavpur candidate, filed a complaint against Trinamool-backed goons on Tuesday and urged EC to ensure that Ward 109 - the most strife stricken area - is provided central force cover .
Residents of Chhit Kalikapur, Netai Nagar, Ahalya Nagar, Yamuna Nagar, Mukundapur B and C and Shahid Smriti Colony told TOI that mostly of these bikers zoomed in from Sonarpur. Madan Das of Chhit Kalikapur said the bikers were rude when demanding their voter cards. "They told us to hand over the voter cards and ID cards immediately, saying we would get them back on polling day. My son tried to reason with them, but they became abusive," alleged Das.
Mohan Pakhira, a resident of Netai Nagar, said that the Trinamool men had prevented EC officials from delivering voter slips. "They told EC officials that they would deliver the slips because they know the area better. But the slips never reached us," alleged Pakhira. "We have complained to police and EC, but Panchasayer police are not that proactive in protecting citizens. Now that an FIR has been filed, we hope the cops will finally act," said Subrata Dasgupta, secretary of the Jadavpur CPM zonal committee and Sujan's election agent.
The clashes and intimidation have their roots in the 2014 KMC polls when Trinamool-backed goons indulged in large-scale rigging and violence. Even media personnel were not spared. Trinamool is worried because Ward 109 - a Left bastion nurtured by CPM veteran Kanti Ganguly - had given Sujan a big lead against Trinamool's Sugato Bose in the Lok Sabha elections. It was enough to give Sujan the lead in Jadavpur assembly constituency. Bose won the LS elections, but Trinamool got jittery and decided that it had to go all out to protect power minister Manish Gupta's seat.
By the time KMC elections arrived in 2015, Trinamool had organized its booth leaders. They chose Ananya Chatterjee - an actor - for ward 109. Though Bhangor strongman Arabul Islam was then suspended from the party, CPM alleged that his men marshalled Trinamool troops. Ananya won.
"With Jadavpur now clearly having pockets where both parties hold sway (CPM is expected to do well in ward 98, comprising Pallisree-Bijoygarh-Gandhi Colony, and ward 102 comprising Baghajatin and Chittaranjan Colony), Shahid Colony has become a major face-off point," said Champak Saha, a member of Ward 102 Trinamool committee.