Kasba pizza outlet row led to Sunday clash in Kankulia
Times of India | 5 February 2026
Kolkata: The violence that occurred at Kankulia on Sunday owed its immediate genesis to another clash at Kasba, claimed cops, but stated that tension between both groups simmered for a long time since Kasba-Tiljala strongman Sona Pappu, aka Biswajit Poddar's right-hand man, Babusona, set his sights on promoting in Dhakuria. Developer Bapi Halder strongly opposed this bid, helped by locals running the satta racket.
However, cops insist, Sunday's ‘instigation' came from 20 men, including Halder, when they created a ruckus at BB Chatterjee Street, near a pizza outlet on Sunday. This challenge on Pappu-Babusona's turf led the two men to rally dozens of men and launch an attack at Kankulia.
Cops now lodged a separate case at Kasba which led to the violence. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint by Dolly Baidya, 48, a resident of Baikuntha Ghosh Road. The complaint names Bapi Halder, Subhasish, Ampa Halder, Tarak Halder, Chapdari Babu, Biswas Vicky, Rakesh, Tanya, Tera Deepak, Rahul, Bubai Deb, Tinnath, Kalu Halder, Sonu, and 20 unidentified persons.
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly arrived carrying weapons. The group is accused of breaking chairs and a table that were kept on the footpath. The complainant further alleged that the accused used vulgar language and issued threats at the location.
Sources said locals, a large section of them women, took police assistance and demolished Sanju's gambling den near the railway tracks. Sanju and his associates suspected that Pappu instigated the demolition. Probe revealed that Halder's syndicate is involved in real estate promotion around Kakulia. In contrast, Sona Pappu and Babusona Mandal run a syndicate in the Kasba, Tiljala and Topsia.
"Babusona knew that the locals, no less than 150, went to a picnic. He wanted to use this to his advantage by reaching Halder's office to deliver a strong message," said an officer, adding, "What he underestimated was that Sanju was ready for them."