A death cheered ...

Thousands of people crowded outside the Swarupkathi thana on Wednesday hearing the news of the death of terrorist Parimol (inset). PHOTO: STAR

Parimal was wanted in at least 20 murder cases, besides scores of other crimes including extortion and rape.

As the news of his death spread, hundreds of people came to Swarupkati police station to confirm it and to see his body.

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People brought out a procession at Sawrupkathi upazila headquarters Friday evening to rejoice Parimal's death.

The body was handed over to his cousin Sukesh Sikder at Dumuria village in Banaripara upazila on Wednesday night. Neither his wife nor his son came to receive the body.

The body was cremated at Dumuria village in presence of police. But none of his family members was present.

The autopsy report said Parimal died of heart attack. Parimal Sikdar, son of Hemonto Sikdar of Dumuria village in Banaripara upzila, passed the S.S.C examination in 1984 and was admitted to Kuriana College. He then came in touch with the Sarbahara Kamrul Group. He was involved in the murder of Union Parishad chairman Somiron Biswas, Sukesh Roy and Somiron Sikder, Sukesh Gain, Ripon Talukder, businessman Shamsul Huq and many others. He was known as a 'butcher' in the party.

Akramul Islam Babul, chairman of Shohagdal Union Parishad in Swarupkati said, people became happy after the death of Parimal but are also anxious about probable revenge from his followers.

His brother Bimal Sikder and close associate Sudhir Biswas, both accused in many cases, may lead the gang now, he added.

Poor guava cultivators in the region were the main victims of Parimon's extortion. They now apprehend retaliation by his followers.

Shahjahan Sheikh, Officer-in-Charge of Swarupkati police station also admitted that the local people are afraid of retaliation.

Police have been deployed in the region to track down Bimal Sikder and other followers of Parimal, he said.

Pirojpur Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Azad Chowdhury said, on the basis of a secret information, plainclothes police were deployed in Swarupkati four days before he was netted.

After confirmation of Parimal's presence in Atghar Kuriana union in Swarupkati, Joint Forces under the command of ASP Saifullah and Swarupkati OC cordoned Parimal's gang at a guava garden in Kuturikati village on Tuesday.

After an exchange of about 100 shots amid a downpour, Parimal's gang retreat. Police caught Parimal, injured in the right knee, along with a pipe gun.

ASIs Md Faruk and Abu Taher and constable Habibur Rahman were also bullet-hit.

He was sent to Swarupkati upazila health complex, where he died from excessive bleeding after eight hours.

Parimal's associates Krishna Samadder alias Kala Krishna, Paritosh Mistri alias Kalinga, Moni Baral, Manotosh Shil, Udit Baral, Prodip Baral, Moni Baroi were with him but they managed escape. Police believe that some of them were injured in gunfight.