Tougher programme if police do not accept case, AL leaders say

Police accepted two cases filed by BNP men against them, AL leaders alleged while talking to this correspondent yesterday.

Lalmonirhat Police Superintendent Maniruzzaman during his Sunday's visit to the municipal office however dismissed the AL allegation. He remained tightlipped when pressed by newsmen to elaborate.

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AL leaders alleged that Lalmonirhat Sadar police refused to accept two cases on beating of party men by BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal activists on municipal office premises and attack on houses of Lalmonirhat district AL General Secretary Nazrul Haq Patwary and Joint Secretary advocate Matiur Rahman.

But police accepted two cases by BNP against AL men for alleged picketing, damaging vehicles and attacking the municipal office, they claimed.

District AL President Alhaz Abul Hossain said, "During the hartal, ruling party men along with 100 hired extortionists from Barobari and Saptibari attacked AL men in front the municipal office and beat them with sticks".

Later the hired men attacked and damaged the house of Patwary and Matiur in the town, he alleged.

When contacted, Patwary said, "BNP men along with hired goons attacked me at my house and damaged furniture and windows."

Matiur Rahaman also made similar allegations.

AL observed a half-day hartal at Lalmonirhat on January 4, protesting the attacks.

They said they will go for a protest programme if police do not accept their cases against BNP men.

When contacted, ruling party leaders claimed that activists of AL, Chhatra League and Jubo League attacked some innocent people whose came from Barobari to Goshala Bazar during the hartal.

They entered the municipal office for safety but the opposition activists entered there and damaged furniture, computers, telephones, official records and looted valuables.

"So we filed two cases with the Sadar thana under the Speedy Trial Act", district BNP Secretary Saleh Uddin Ahmed Helal said.

Lalmonirhat municipal chairman Lutfar Rahman when contacted said, "I do not know the people who damaged and looted Tk 10 lakh property from the (municipal) office during the hartal.

"I demand their immediate arrest and punishment."

The municipal authorities submitted a complaint to police in the evening on the hartal day, but they are yet to take any action.

On Sunday, the day after the hartal, DC Ismail Hossain and SP Maniruzzaman visited the municipal office.