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This is an archive article published on September 10, 2009

Gaffar sings an equal music: CPM,Trinamool men helped me in land grab

Gaffar Mollah,a local strongman arrested in connection with the Vedic Village violence,was close to both CPM as well as Trinamool Congress leaders in Rajarhat and surrounding areas,sources in the police said.

Gaffar Mollah,a local strongman arrested in connection with the Vedic Village violence,was close to both CPM as well as Trinamool Congress leaders in Rajarhat and surrounding areas,sources in the police said.

During his interrogation,Mollah is said to have admitted that Azizul Islam alias Khude,brother of Trinamool MLA Arabul Islam,was his mentor and that he was also close to local CPM leaders who used him for land grab for Vedic Village as well as contracting labour for the projects in the area.

State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen,however,said no evidence has emerged against any politician. “No name of political leaders has surfaced as yet. However,an investigation is on regarding the violence in Vedic Village,murder and land grab,” he said,adding it would be better if some more “complaints poured in”.

North 24-Parganas SP Rahul Srivastav said Mollah is revealing crucial information during the interrogation. “We are not concerned with politics. Anybody directly associated with Gaffar in the case will be arrested.”According to sources,before the Trinamool Congress wrested power in the local panchayat in Rajarhat in 2008,Mollah worked with local CPM leaders.

Around 2000,the alleged kingpin was a labour contractor who took to supplying buildings material. Later,he formed three syndicates — G Enterprise,KGN Enterprise and A M Builders. In all these,local leaders from the CPM and Trinamool allegedly had interests.

“Mollah worked for R K Modi,the arrested MD of Vedic Village,and helped him in grabbing land in the area. Biplab Biswas,assistant manager of the prime resort,identified the land to be grabbed. Mollah then took help from local politicians,” said a senior police officer at Rajarhat police station.

Police sources said Mollah,in his early years in this business,worked with Rashid Ali Mollah,secretary of Rajarhat Bishnupur Local Committee. Rashid,who was the main labour contractor in Vedic Village,took Gaffar’s help in hiring labourers. Rashid also allegedly took Rs 10 as his daily cut from labourers working in various projects in the area,including those in Vedic Village resorts.

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“I am not involved in anything. Everybody knows whose brother is Azizul Islam alias Khude. Police are looking for Khude,” said Rashid.

Nuruddin Gazi,former CPM chief of Chandpur gram panchayat,along with one Parimal Mistry,was allegedly engaged as middleman for the resort at the initial stage. They also talked to local farmers and asked them to give up their land for the project. “They paid a lucrative amount for buying land. Villagers directly contacted them to sell their land,” said Gazi.

The Trinamool,however,sought to defend its MLA,Arabul Islam. “There is a conspiracy against Arabul Islam. He is innocent. It is CPM leaders who for the past ten years worked with and used criminals like Gaffar,” said Jyotipriyo Mullick,a Trinamool leader.

Modi files three bail pleas

Raj Kishore Modi,the arrested managing director of Vedic Village,has filed three bail petitions in the Calcutta High Court,which will likely come up for hearing this week.

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Modi was arrested on August 29 in connection with the violence that broke out inside Vedic Village on August 23. The police had seized firearms and explosives from the premises of the prime resort.

Earlier,the CJM court at Barasat had rejected Modi’s bail plea on August 30 and September 1 and remanded him in police custody till September 10. Modi has been booked for murder and charges under the Arms Act.

The managing director of Vedic Village was arrested after three persons filed complaints with the Rajarhat police station alleging his complicity in the August 23 violence and arson inside Vedic Village and incidents of land grab.

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