Calcutta, Sept. 5: An Independent councillor of Maheshtala Municipality was among 14 persons arrested on Friday night for allegedly attacking three Trinamul councillors of the civic body and ransacking houses of party supporters.
The accused, Sirajul Islam Mondal, is one of the two Independent councillors of the 35-ward municipality run by the Trinamul. Mondal, who had earlier been a CPM councillor and pradhan of Panchur panchayat before Maheshtala Municipality was formed in 1993, has had a long-standing feud with the Trinamul.
Mondal's supporters said he had drawn the ire of local Trinamul leaders when he refused to join the party.
Local residents said Mondal's supporters have been locked in a tussle with Trinamul supporters ever since the last civic elections in April. The Trinamul has allegedly been trying to wrest control of ward No. 6 of Maheshtala Municipality, where Mondal is the councillor.
Calcutta mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who is the president of Trinamul's South 24-Parganas unit, however, denied that Mondal had been asked to join the Trinamul. "We were never interested in having him in our party," said Chatterjee, who visited Maheshtala on Saturday.
Maheshtala, about 18km from central Calcutta, has witnessed rapid urbanisation over the past few years. At least one large housing complex and a township are coming up in the area. "Land prices are going up. No political leader from any party would like to lose control over such an area," said a police officer.
Residents of the area said the trouble began around 2pm on Friday. One of Mondal's supporters said the two sides had got into an argument, which led to the assault.
About 20 of Mondal's supporters allegedly attacked the houses of several Trinamul supporters in Panchur Laskarpara. Trinamul supporters alleged that Mondal's men ransacked about a dozen cars and two-wheelers, all belonging to supporters of the party. They also accused Mondal's men of ransacking the houses of some supporters.
"They (Mondal's men) barged into my house and ransacked the bed and TV, broke the window panes and looted cash," said Mohammad Taki Mali, a Trinamul supporter.
As news of the attacks spread, Trinamul supporters reached the area in large numbers and a clash followed between the two sides.
Three Trinamul leaders - Suman Roy Chowdhury, councillor of ward 3, Tapas Halder, councillor of ward 9, and Sabyasachi Basu, Trinamul president in Metiabruz Block II, were admitted to hospital with injuries.
Mondal and his supporters have been charged with rioting, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. They were produced in Alipore court on Saturday.
Sirajul and two others were remanded in police custody till September 8. The rest were sent to judicial custody till September 19.
