In an unprecedented incident, veteran CPI(M) MLA of Canning, Abdur Rezzak Mollah, was attacked and beaten allegedly by former Trinamul Congress MLA Arabul Islam and his associates in broad daylight at Kantatala in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas.
With injuries in mouth, below the eyes and waist, Mr Mollah was admitted at Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) off EM Bypass in Mukundapur. The CPI(M) has given a deadline of 48 hours to the police to arrest Mr Islam.
On Sunday, the CPI(M) MLA, who enjoys a close rapport with chief minister Mamata Banerjee, was going to visit a party office at Kantatala which was set ablaze allegedly by the Trinamul Congress on Saturday. “The local women had called me repeatedly in panic. They had alleged that Arabul was torching their houses and looting them. So I had assured them that I would go there,” he said. Lying on hospital bed, Mr Mollah added: “I had called up the superintendent of police (SP) of South 24 Parganas. He told me: Ok, you can go there.”
At around 12.20 pm, his car, a jeep bearing number (JH-01C-8447), reached Kantatala. A rally led by Mr Islam, the Trinamul strongman of the area, was underway there. The ex-MLA was giving his speech. Seeing Mr Mollah, the Trinamul Congress activists blocked his way and surrounded his car. Mr Mollah came out of his car and became their target instantly.
Leader of the Oppo-sition Surjya Kanta Mish-ra claimed, “Arabul atta-cked Mr Mollah first.” He added, “Punc-hing on his face, he asked others to pin him down on the road and thrash him. From sticks to kicks, all were used to leave him injured. Mr Mollah had gone there only after speaking to the SP.”
Mr Mollah’s driver Amar Ghosh said, “I have been driving his car for the past two years but have never faced such a mob fury.” He added, “There were around 25 men in the group led by Arabul. Thrashing Mr Mollah with shoes, they dragged him besides the car. Next I bore the brunt of their physical and verbal abuse. Our car was also damaged.”
CPI(M) leader Kanti Ganguly said, “Some policemen rescued Mr Mollah and took him to the hospital in his damaged car.” No ambulance was arranged, he alleged.
Following his admission, Mr Mollah underwent treatment under the supervision of a medical board and was shifted to a cabin in the evening. He said, “The pain in waist is unbearable.” RTIICS general manager (medical operations) Sujoy Ranjan Deb said, “He underwent two stitches for the bleeding in his lower slip; an X-ray and ECG was conducted.” He added, “Some teeth were shaken mildly. But he has complained of pain. We may conduct more medical examinations on him. His condition is stable now.”
Mr Mollah’s driver has lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Leather Complex police station.
SP( South 24 Parganas) P.K. Tripathy, however, denied of granting permission to Mr Mollah to visit the area. He also affirmed that no talks had taken place on Mr Mollah’s visit when the latter had called him in the morning. Mr Tripathy added, “But we have received a complaint on the attack on Mr Mollah. A case has been initiated.” No one has been arrested so far.