The violence that rocked a Behala neighbourhood in southwest Kolkata late on Tuesday was the outcome of a faction feud within the Trinamul Congress, residents and police sources said, a trend that is seen in several other pockets, too.
Babun Banerjee, a Trinamul youth leader known for his proximity to the local party leadership, allegedly led the attack in Charaktala. He could not be arrested till Thursday night.
The police said “efforts are being made to track him down”.
Local Trinamul MLA Ratna Chatterjee said she had told Banerjee’s family that he should surrender to the police.
“The chief minister is concerned about this incident…. There is no question of tolerating anything like this. I have clearly told Babun Banerjee’s family that he should surrender immediately and let law take its course.”
Banerjee, who has multiple cases of rioting and violence against him, has been chargesheeted in many cases.
Many in the locality said on Thursday that Banerjee’s rivalry with a local developer, Gopal Ghosh, who lives in Charaktala, led to the violence. Known in the locality by his nickname Laltu, Ghosh is known for his proximity to a section of the ruling party and has allegedly been resisting Banerjee’s attempts to “extend his business” in Charaktala.
“Once he is away, Babunda will have full control,” said one of Banerjee’s aides.
Ghosh had told The Telegraph on Wednesday: “They want to capture everything. Why can't they let us live peacefully?”
He could not be reached on Thursday.
Banerjee’s aides — all from a locality called Unchu Danga — had allegedly raided the adjoining Charaktala and attacked residents and cars there, police sources said. Several people were injured. The police allegedly looked on as the battle raged.
The police had said on Wednesday that they were initially outnumbered, but when reinforcement arrived, the warring groups fled. Twelve people were arrested.
Charaktala is dotted with old residential buildings and standalone homes. There are a few new buildings that stand out from the rest.
The financial prospects of the real estate business in the neighbourhood may not be too bright compared to some other pockets of Kolkata, but those are enough to lure hundreds of unemployed youths into the syndicate business.
A developer who lives in Behala spoke on condition of anonymity: “The problem is they want to exert control over everything. Be it the profits they make from supplying construction materials or grabbing government contracts. The area that used to be peaceful even a few years ago is getting difficult to work in.”
It is alleged that goons backed by Trinamul try to control the rates of construction materials in their areas and often force developers to buy inferior materials at inflated rates.
Many residents this newspaper spoke to said such a clash was waiting to happen.
“These people fight like cats and dogs every second day. Are we to believe that no one in the higher-ups knew about that? But nothing has been done to stop either group,” said a resident of Charaktala.
But a clash with guns and bombs? A local trader on Thursday said: “You are surprised because you don't know the place. Many people here now have guns.”
