Midnight mass eviction

The armed miscreants unleashed a reign of terror, opening fire and threatening the slum dwellers with death unless they vacate houses at the Achchiya Colony, victims and police said.

The slum is on a disputed land adjoining Muradpur Mirzerpole area under Panchlaish thana.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

They said the incident resulted from a dispute between one Nazu Mia and his five step-brothers over ownership of the land.

The victims alleged that over one hundred armed goons came at around 2 AM, allegedly on orders from Nazu Mia. They forced them out and also looted goods from the evacuated houses.

They also blamed police for delayed appearance and not going into action against the miscreants.

Agitated people later brought out processions and chanted slogans against Nazu Mia and police.

Police claimed that they rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information. The miscreants opened fire, they said.

Police said that there was a long-drawn dispute over the land between Nazu Mia and his five step brothers including Zahirul Alam Shafi, Vice-president of Chittagong City unit of Jatiya Party, over the huge land.

They said, Achchiya Begum, mother of Shafi, owned the land while Nazu Mia, son of Laila Begum, was allegedly deprived of the property.

Nazu also filed five GDs in this connection. His resentment might have led to yesterday's incident, police said.

On the other hand, Nazu's steps brothers alleged that Nazu grabbed some 182 decimal land of the colony through forged documents and already sold them at a nominal price of Tk. 3 lakh to a notorious criminal, Ahmadya Chairman of Satkania.

The evicted people alleged the armed cadres of Ahmadya, also an accused in the sensational business magnet Jamal Uddin abduction case, made the attack.