Outlaws claim responsibility, police bring murder charge

A tense situation is prevailing on the campus. Additional police have been deployment, campus sources said when contacted yesterday.

Police said they found on the severed parts a slip in the name of Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF), claiming responsibility for the murder. GMF is an offshoot of outlawed Shromojibi Mukti Andolon.

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Police at IU outpost claimed that Shoel along with some ICS activists was going home at Sailkupa in a rented private car Friday evening. A gang of eight GMF armed men stopped the car at Habibpur at about 8 pm and picked up Shoel at gunpoint.

They killed him, severed his head and wrists and kept those near the main gate of the university.

Police said they came to know about the killing when an unanimous caller phoned the IU police outpost. But police could not recover the body.

They said Shoel, 28, was accused in several criminal cases including two murder cases, field with IU police.

He was involved in the killing of Kumarkahli Municipality Ward Commissioner Ali Azam on the campus on April 28, 1995. Azam had gone there with his sister for her admission.

He led another gang that killed JCD activist Hafizur Rahman on April 26 last year. He was accused in both the murder cases, police said.

Besides, there are several cases of abduction, snatching and toll collection against him, filed with Sailkupa and IU police stations.

Campus sources said Sohel was admitted to the Al-Quran Department in 1992-93 session and completed his MTIS (Masters in Theology and Islamic Studies) degree on 2002.

He was the son of Mosarraf Hossain, a retired teacher of Sailkupa Degree College, hailing from Sailmari in Bheramara upazila in the district.

After admission to IU, Shoel joined ICS, a student front of Jamaat-e-islami.

Soon after, Shoel became known as 'cadre Shoel' for his leading role and notoriety.

Shoel led ICS activists in at least 25 clashes with opponents including activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Bangladesh Jatoyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Chhatra Union, Chhatra Moitree and Chhatra Front at different times from 1993 to 2002, the campus sources said.

Police said Shoel led a trained cadre group on the campus that also controlled area adjoining the campus to establish supremacy of ICS.

They said although Shoel completed his Masters degree, he was staying at Saddam Hossain Hall of the university.

Another source said Shoel was doing M, Phil in AL-Quran department.

He recently abducted two contractors and demanded Tk 10 lakh ransom. A case was filed against him in this regard.

The sources claimed that he maintained links with outlawed parties and shared booty with them.

ICS sources at IU said Shoel's was suspended from the party recently for his involvement in criminal activities.