Political rivalries and syndicates behind Kasba land dispute, leading to shooting, says Sushanta Ghosh

The land filling dispute in the Kasba area, which recently culminated in a violent shooting incident, has drawn attention to a complex web of political rivalries, illegal land dealings, and syndicate operations. Councilor Sushanta Ghosh, a key figure in the controversy, claims that long-standing political tensions and the involvement of powerful land mafias led to the escalation of the dispute. The land in question, referred to as "Kasba Madhus," has been at the center of multiple illegal activities, with rival groups vying for control over the property.

The root of the conflict can be traced back over three years ago when Mohammad Zulkhar, a notorious land broker in the region, attempted to fill a 120-bigha waterbody in the Gulshan Colony area to claim it as private land. Zulkhar’s plan was disrupted when Ghosh and his associate Haider Ali intervened, blocking the land filling operation. The incident marked the beginning of a bitter feud between Ghosh and Zulkhar, who both sought control of the land. Zulkhar, reportedly with the backing of Gulzar Khan (also known as Afrroz), then sought to retaliate, leading to further tensions.

The arrest of Gulzar Khan has shed new light on the ongoing land disputes in the region. Khan is accused of trying to reclaim a 2,000-square-foot area near a godown previously owned by Zulkhar. Sources indicate that Ghosh and his supporters claim that the land was not illegally occupied and that the dispute arose over Zulkhar’s attempts to take control of the property. On the other hand, Khan accused Ghosh of illegally seizing the space. The ongoing dispute over this land has become a focal point in the investigation.

In addition to the specific dispute over the godown, the controversy involves a series of illegal land dealings across the region. Ghosh claims that the fight is not limited to the property near the godown, but also extends to other prime real estate in the area, allegedly controlled by land syndicates. These syndicates are said to be responsible for manipulating land sales and settlements in the area, valued at hundreds of crores. Ghosh’s attempts to block Zulkhar’s illegal land-filling activities reportedly angered rival factions, leading to the violence that ensued.

The shooting incident, which occurred amidst escalating tensions between the rival factions, further complicated the matter. Authorities are now investigating the role of local political figures in these illegal activities. The investigation is focused on the involvement of the land mafia, political leaders, and their role in fueling the ongoing disputes. Law enforcement agencies have stated that they are looking into how political rivalries and syndicate operations have contributed to the violence, with a particular focus on the complex land deals in the area.

Authorities have also started to examine the larger network of land transactions tied to the dispute. The investigation is expected to uncover more about the syndicate’s involvement, and whether local political figures used their influence to benefit from illegal land transactions. With the case still under investigation, it remains unclear how many more individuals are involved in these dealings and whether the violence will escalate further.