The criminal politician's Army

Gang ho: Parties ready for the big fight
5 Apr 2009, 0537 hrs IST, Caesar Mandal, TNN

KOLKATA: The slowdown might be hitting home, but there's no dearth of jobs for these tough blokes. Especially in this poll season. You may not see
them in the posters, banners and smiling cutouts crowding public consciousness. But they're there for sure, ruthless individuals working silently behind the scenes. They are the ganglords of the city's underbelly and all parties, once they quote the right price, tap into their resources.

And just as politicians read the poll winds and change tack, these men are notorious for their shifting loyalties. They tie up with different political masters and at times, with more than one political party. Some though are loyal to their old pals.

Sridhar Das, one of the most dreaded dons of south Kolkata, is known for his proximity to the ruling party. Patronized by a former south Kolkata MLA, Sridhar rose to prominence as he spread his tentacles to the southern fringes, including parts of North and South 24-Parganas, especially Falta. He owns a palatial house there.

The criminal-turned-realtor is also in touch with a Trinamool MLA, and in a recent deal, he agreed not to deploy his men in south Kolkata. A CPM zonal committee member who looks after Sridhar's legal protection, could not prevail upon him to change this decision. However, Sridhar could not refuse to "help" the ruling bloc in North 24-Parganas.

Another associate of the ganglord, Noche, is yet to make up his mind. For now, he might be with Trinamool in the Thakupukur-Behala area. Sensing the winds of change in South 24-Parganas, notorious robber Selim Sardar will take care of Trinamool in Mathurapaur. His wife has reportedly been promised a job. Days back, Sardar was released on bail. He had been arrested by CID from a government guest house at Geonkhali a few months ago.

Others are marking time. Kumar Saha, branded for his political loyalty, is busy in Diamond Harbour for Pragatishil Indira Congress. Kumar wanted to deploy his team in south Kolkata but a senior Trinamool leader allegedly refused as he feared Kumar's presence would harm the party's vote bank.

In his absence of Kumar, the people who broke from his gang Rabi Halder, Guthke, Bapi Halder and the gang of Jhalarmath will be ready to take on the ruling party in Tollygunge, Charu Market and Chetla area.

Like Kumar, Swadesh Mondal of Bantala is loyal to his patron in North 24-Parganas. He has been assigned a role in the industrial belt of Barrackpore. According to police, the CPM in this area can't depend on local criminals. Similarly, in Topsia and Tangra, intra-party feuds are a major headache for the ruling party. Two notorious gangsters in the area, Alam and Raja, are under the protection of two party stalwarts. With their backing, the turf war between the two has escalated, leaving members of both gangs injured. The ruling party is depending on Gour Mondal of Rajarhat for a bailout. Mondal is known for his huge team, which lords over the booming real estate business in New Town.

A Trinamool MLA in South 24-Parganas has himself taken charge of the entire area from Bhangar to Baruipur.

The above gives a low-down of how our criminal politicians go about their tasks of winning election.
Is this what you call a democracy?
The worst part is no party is free of this malaise.
So whom do you vote for?
We have to fight for starting the negative vote so that all these candidates are rejected.
We have to let the political parties know that we will not accept criminals.

Radheshyam