Killings by outlaws up

At least 91 people were killed in the district in the last four months compared to 40 in the previous three months.

Twenty-one people were killed in January, 18 in February, 22 in March and 30 in April this year. This compares to nine in October, 12 in November and 19 in December last year, according to police records and newspaper reports.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

In a single incident on April 30, outlaws belonging to Janajuddho faction of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) killed three persons in the district. In another such incident on December last year, its cadres killed five persons at Chalerkathi village in Damurhuda upazila.

According police sources at least seven outlawed parties with 1000 armed cadres grouped in 20 gangs are active in the terror torn district in the southwestern region.

About 12 lakh people of four upazilas of the district are hostage in the hands of the gangs.

Fifty ringleaders control the armed cadres who possess about 15000 illegal firearms, according to sources in intelligence agencies.

The outlawed parties are Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), Janajuddoh faction of PBCP, Banglar Communist Party (BCP), Bipplobi Communist Party (BCP), New Bipplobi Communist Party (NBCP), Jashod Gono Bahini (JGB) and Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) of Sromojibi Mukti Andolon.

The hardened criminals belonging to these parties collect illegal toll from people and business men, grab land, abduct and commit murders for ransom and rape and kill girls at will.

At least 100 people were killed by these terrorists in the district in last four months, according to police records and newspapers report.

The victims include political leaders and activists, businessmen failing to pay toll and girls, killed after rape. Members of rival parties were also killed over rivalry for establishing supremacy in different areas.

The law and order situation in the district is the worst now compared to any previous period, some police officials told this correspondent preferring anonymity. Murders have crossed all previous records, they said.

PBCP (Janajuddho) is responsible for most of the killings. It claimed responsibility for at least 60 killings, they said.

"Godfathers of the outlaws are political leaders belonging to major parties", said a high police official.

"The godfathers use the outlaws for various purposes including election, establishing supremacy or killing political opponents", he said.

"Intelligence agencies have identified at least nine such godfathers and 126 professional terrorists of various outlawed parties and gangs in Chuadanga and gave lists to higher authorities several month ago but to no effect", he said.

Other sources claimed that these outlaws maintain close link with a section of policemen and get tip-off before police raid. As a result they evaded arrest during last three successive joint drives in this region since last year.

There are nine joint forces' camps in the district but they can not make any headway in netting the outlaws.