Outlaws to 'avenge killing'of party men by joint forces

According to fax messages received at local newspaper offices from PBCP (M-L) and PBCP (Janajuddho), 51 leaders and 54 cadres were allegedly killed by law enforcers during the period.

Top leaders of these two underground organisations have given "death threats" to some members of law enforcing agencies, accusing them for the "killings".

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They have taken as a challenge the killings of two 'regional leaders'-- Amit Hasan of PBCP (Purba Banglar Communist Party--Janajuddho) and Abdur Rashid Shaikh Alias Tapu of PBCP (M-L) in police custody. They have vowed to give a "befitting reply" to the joint forces, according to the messages received recently.

This has created a panic among members of joint forces and people.

Sources in some intelligence agencies have termed the situation in South-Western region "grave" and suggested a change in the policy. "Extremists should be dealt with without creating panic and resorting to adventure, they say.

Anti-crime drive by joint forces was intensified in the region in January against the backdrop of an alarming rise in "targeted murders" last year.

According to records available with the Range DIG office, 583 persons including 12 policemen were murdered in the region last year, forcing joint forces to adopt new tactics and a rigid stand against extremists.

"Accordingly, we finished for good over 100 extremists during the anti-crime drive", said DIG Abdul Aziz Sarker.

But he refuted the claim that law enforcers directly and intentionally killed them. "All the extremists were killed during crossfire when my forces came under fierce armed attack", he said.

According to police records, 276 murders were committed since January this year in the S-W region. Of these, 51 died in police custody and 45 were killed in mass beating by mobs in January.

In February, six out of 49 deaths took place in police custody. The number of custodial deaths rose to 19 out of total 69 in March, 13 out of 64 in April and 10 out of 49 till May 26 this year in the region.

But leaders of the two factions of PBCP do not believe that any of their cadres was lynched by mob.

"People and the media are being blackmailed by police", said Mofakkhar Chowdhury, secretary of PBCP (M-L) in a recent fax message to a local newspaper office.