Fresh Syndicate Clashes in Rajarhat

KOLKATA: Days after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked her party men to work together, factional feuds erupted once again in Rajarhat. A group of Trinamool Congress supporters working for the “MLA lobby” bombed house of a member of the “MP lobby” on Sunday night. The feud, about a control over syndicates in Rajarhat area, brought to the fore how the Chief Minister’s warnings are falling on deaf ears in these areas.
A group of five-six men on Sunday night started bombing in front of Panchu Mandal’s residence at Baidyapara area near Thakdari around 9.30 PM.They also hurled bombs in front of a temple near a party office in the area. Later, they fled the spot before police arrived. According to locals, the men who came riding bikes, are known faces and work for syndicates run by Bhajai Sardar. Bhajai, who is allegedly close to a local MLA, has been silent for a while during the election. But he started spreading control in Rajarhat immediately after the elections were over.
An FIR was lodged against 10 people on Monday morning for allegedly bombing Panchu Mandal’s residence. By evening police detained around five people from nearby areas. “Bhajai has an entire control over the area barring a few pockets like Baidyapara. Now he is trying to get an absolute control. He has asked the youth either to join him or not indulge in any syndicate activities,” said a member close to the “MP lobby”.