A day after The Hindu published the news of Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Arabul Islam’s associates allegedly threatening fishermen of two bheris (ponds) in East Kolkata Wetland with ouster from the area unless they pay Rs. 10,000 a month and saying they will come back on Friday to ‘make a list of names’, on Friday, the associates of Mr. Islam ‘postponed the meeting’ for a couple of days.
When contacted, a local said, “Mr. Islam’s right hand man Nityogopal told me on Thursday that they have been facing some difficulty and hence will hold the meeting after two or three days.” As for the reason of the delay, he said, “I think it is because of your newspaper publishing the incident in detail.”
However, about 60 fishermen, who earn their livelihood from the two ponds - Dakshin Gorumara I and Dakshin Gorumara II - are still not out of trauma. They apprehend that the danger has only been delayed, but it still looms large.
“We are still afraid. They will come back within a couple of days,” said a local fisherman on the condition of anonymity. The two ponds are about 100 acres in size.
The associates of Mr. Islam allegedly issued an implicit threat to the local fishermen that if they did not pay the levy, they would not be allowed to earn their livelihood in the area.
The fishermen were also apprehensive that Mr. Islam’s men might target them and their family members.
Mr. Islam, however, denied the allegation.
Activists alleged that the instances of TMC-backed men threatening to oust the local fishermen are not a new phenomenon and it has been going on for several years.
