Kolkata: Arabul Islam, the former Trinamul Congress MLA and strongman of Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, has been granted conditional bail by the a district court nearly 72 days after his arrest in connection with the murder of a villager on the eve of the Panchayat Elections.
On Monday, the Baruipur court ordered the bail to him against a personal bond of Rs 20,000, Arabul Islam’s lawyer Jaishnu Basu said.
While granting him bail the additional district judge however imposed a condition that Arabul would not be able to enter Bhangar and Kashipur of the district and Rajarhat in North 24 Parganas.
It earlier rejected his bail pleas four times on ill-health grounds. After his police remand ended, Arabul during the most of his judicial custody had been admitted with illness to SSKM Hospital from where he would be released once the order from the court reaches there, Mr Basu added.
On May 12, he was arrested by the police on chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s order for the killing of Hafizul Mollah of Machhibhanga. in firing by a group of Trinamul-backed miscreants allegedly led by him on a rally in support of an independent candidate for the rural polls’ campaign a day before.
He however claimed to be innocent earlier. Hafizul, who took part in the rally, was one of those villagers who formed a forum — Committe to save land, livelihood, house and environment — which has been fiercely opposing the construction of a power grid in Bhangar with the help of CPI (ML) Red Star.
It was the forum which had taken out the rally on May 11 afternoon. Known for his muscle power Arabul had become the face of the ruling party to tackle the villagers’ violent movement against the power grid. Apart from his role in the killing, he also came under the scanner for tasking his followers in attacking the villagers for their protests.
Fearing retaliation by Arabul once he comes out of hospital the forum has decided to challenge his bail at the Calcutta high court. But the Trinamul is yet to react on the bail to Arabul judging his past activities which has left the ruling party embarrassed on more than one occasion.
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