Mindless arrests in Barisal before Apr 30

Three meritorious students of Barisal Zila School were not spared. They are Apu, Pavel and Imon, of Class X. The three were arrested from the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMCH) area on Saturday.

Headmaster of the school Nomita Shorkhal told this correspondent that the three are brilliant students. "I hope they will get Grade Point 5 in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination".

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The break-up of the arrested is as follows. Two hundred and nineteen were arrested from Barisal, 27 from Patuakhali, 21 from Pirojpur, 17 from Bhola and 12 from Jhalokati in three days till Sunday afternoon. All were arrested under Section 34 of CRPC.

Barisal Kotwali police started their drive of mass arrest from Friday afternoon.

Police claimed the detainees as drug addicts or drug peddlers, extortionists and criminals though they admitted that none of the arrested were included in the criminals' list.

According to police and victims, raids are being conducted at all the entry points of the city including bus stands, tempo stands, launch terminal, steamer terminal, slums, parks or recreational spots.

Except the females, aged and sick, all the arrested were taken to Kotwali police station. Most of them were found to be innocent and released after interrogation on Saturday. Security was beefed up in the city by introducing check posts at different city points.

Apparently the crackdown has been aimed at foiling the ongoing agitation programme of the main opposition Awami League.

Barisal Kotwali thana officer-in-charge (OC) Nurul Amin told this correspondent that all were arrested in a joint operation from Friday which will continue for eight to 10 days.

Arrested persons and their relatives alleged that the situation had brought a golden chance for members of the law enforcing agencies to collect bribe from innocent people.