Have Didi’s mandate for what I’m doing: Arabul

Such patronage largely explained why despite Governor M K Narayanan's urge for "impartial action" by the police has gone unheard. Arabul has 12 criminal cases pending against him. Such is the clout of this Trinamool strongman that during the course of this interview — of just half an hour — he kept receiving a series of phone calls from senior officials of the local police stations in Bhangar, giving him details of police activity in the area. He also recieved a series of texts messages from the police officers, updating him about police actions.

Talking about the upcoming panchayat polls, Arbul said he now controls the area and the CPM has "minimum scope" for even filing nominations. "There are 19 panchayats in my area. And we will not allow the CPM to file their nominations in the polls."

Arabul's security guard nodded in agreement and said: "We need not do anything. The CPM dos not have the men to file nomination."

Asked about police action in response to the criminal cases lodged against Arabul, a senior police officer in the area said, "We are helpless and have no mandate from the top to arrest him. The superior police officers and the government did not even ask for a report about the latest violence, let alone arrest him. He moves scot-free even after assaulting a former Inspector in charge of the police station who had to undergo brain surgery."

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