Gaffar Mollah,a local strongman arrested in connection with the Vedic Village violence,was close to both CPM as well as Trinamool Congress leaders in Rajarhat and surrounding areas,sources in the police said. During his interrogation,Gaffar is said to have admitted that Azizul Islam alias Khude,brother of Trinamool MLA Arabul Islam,was his mentor and that he was also close to local CPM leaders who used him for land grabbing for Vedic Village as well as contracting labour for the projects in the area. State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen,however,said no evidence has emerged against any politician. No name of political leaders has surfaced as yet. However,an investigation is on regarding the violence in Vedic Village,murder and land grab, he said,adding it would be better if some more complaints poured in. North 24 Parganas SP Rahul Srivastav said Gaffar is revealing crucial information during the interrogation. We are not concerned with politics. Anybody directly associated with Gaffar in the case will be arrested. According to sources,before the Trinamool wrested power in the local panchayat in Rajarhat in 2008,Gaffar worked with local CPM leaders. Around 2000,the alleged kingpin was a labour contractor who took to supplying buildings material. Later,he formed three syndicates G Enterprise,KGN Enterprise and A M Builders. In all these,local CPM and Trinamool leaders allegedly had interests. Gaffar worked for R K Modi,the arrested MD of Vedic Village,and helped him in grabbing land in the area. Biplab Biswas,assistant manager of the resort,identified the land to be grabbed. Gaffar then took help from local politicians, said a senior police officer at Rajarhat police station. Police sources said Gaffar,in his early years in this business,worked with Rashid Ali Mollah,secretary of Rajarhat Bishnupur Local Committee. Rashid,who was the main labour contractor in Vedic Village,took Gaffars help in hiring labourers. Rashid also allegedly took Rs 10 as his daily cut from labourers working in various projects in the area,including those in Vedic Village resorts. I am not involved in anything. Everybody knows whose brother is Azizul Islam alias Khude. Police are looking for Khude, said Rashid. Nuruddin Gazi,former CPM chief of Chandpur grampanchayat,along with one Parimal Mistry,was allegedly engaged as middleman for the resort at the initial stage. They also talked to local farmers and asked them to give up their land for the project. They paid a lucrative amount for buying land. Villagers directly contacted them to sell their land, said Gazi. The Trinamool,however,sought to defend its MLA. There is a conspiracy against Arabul Islam. He is innocent. It is CPM leaders who for the past 10 years worked with and used criminals like Gaffar, said Jyotipriyo Mullick,a Trinamool leader.
