Referring to the Salt Lake incident where CITU and the CPM supporters clashed, Ghosh said: “They are criminals. I admit that just because we are in power and some people have infiltrated into our party and are tarnishing our image by indulging in all sorts of evil businesses.” 

Inquiries into the Salt Lake incident revealed that one of the two suspended leaders has amassed huge wealth over the last couple of years through various dealings, extortions and owns at least four cars, apart from owning other real estate property. Sources said there were many complaints had poured in against the leaders both at the district committee as well as the state headquarters of the CPM at Alimuddin Street but no action was taken till the incident occurred.  

“The face of CPM’s urban cadre base has undergone radical changes. Most of the urban young cadres holding some position in the party set up are now busy with business dealings and regular extortion from local businessmen,” said a senior leader of the state committee.

Over a period, the ugly face of the urban CPM cadres is becoming more pronounced. Consider this:

* On January 14, a group of local CITU activist led by one P Das forcibly entered the Dum Dum airport customs office and assaulted senior officers. Das and his accomplices are allegedly involved in grey market trading, especially electronic goods that are smuggled out of the Airport Authority of India’s customs storehouse at the airport.

Das has a trading company apart from being a group D staff with the AAI. Despite complaints being lodged by the airport customs official with the local police, no action was taken as they enjoyed the patronage of a section of party leaders including those at the MP level.

* In a yet another case, Sujit Dasgupta (60), president of Durganagar station hawkers’ union and also a member of Dum Dum zonal Committee of the CPM and Shambhu Dasgupta (32), a member of the CPM, were hacked to death on the station platform by a gang of six CITU activists. The Dum Dum police picked up four persons — Krishnendu Bhattacharya, Shibendu Bhattacharya, Asim Basak and Debashis Sanyal ¿ all known to be close comrades of CPM leaders.

* The Salt Lake incident where Neloy Ghosh — a CPM Salt Lake committee member — led a group of men who set ablaze a CITU office near a shopping mall where Ghosh had an advertising company.

The CITU activists in a show of strength retaliated by pulling down hoardings set up by Ghosh and also attacked one courier service office run by one of Ghosh’s relatives.