Bhangor victims’ families move court against Arabul

BHANGOR (South 24-Parganas): Bhangor victims’ families knocked the doors of the judiciary on Friday seeking justice and demanding action against all the accused, including expelled Trinamool leader Arabul Islam.
“Arabul’s expulsion from the party is just an eyewash. He will be doing the same kind of dadagiri that he is used to. Police have not rounded up the accused even eight days after the murder,” said Lakshmi, wife of Panchu Gopal Mondal, who was one of the 14 arrested in connection with the violence.
On Friday, deceased Ramesh Ghosal’s daughter Paramita and two sisters-in-law Kalpana and Sabita approached Justice Himika Das Bandopadhyay in the high court and prayed for justice. They said that the four main culprits – Arabul Islam, Soumen Naskar, Raju Mondal and Dinabandhu Mondal — were moving around the villages threatening people of a bloodier retaliation.
The male family members have fled home fearing attack by Arabul and his aides. “My son has not come home for the last eight days. I don’t know his whereabouts. Arabul’s supporters come and threaten us every morning, while police come at night. We are living in a state of terror,” said a resident of Beota gram panchayat, who was too scared to say her name.
South 24-Parganas police superintendent Praveen Tripathy denied the allegations of the family member of the victims that they were forced to sign on blank paper.
When asked why Arabul and his associates had not been arrested, Tripathy said, “Why should I tell you? We know what to do and what not to.”
In another development, Arabul aide Dilip Mondal was arrested and produced in court on Saturday.