11 houses ruined by hired goons of influential in Nilphamari

Female inmates standing beside remnants of their ruined house at Khagakharibari village in Dimla upazila, Nilphamari. Hired musclemen of an influential, also a relative of a local BNP leader allegedly ruined their houses on Thursday following a longstanding dispute over land. PHOTO: STAR

There had been a longstanding dispute over a bigha (30 decimals) of land between Joshna Begum, wife, of influential Khokon of West Kharibari village and Azizar, Rafiqul and Mijar of Khagakharibari village. Early in the morning on the fateful day, 200 hired musclemen of Khokon equipped with lethal weapons attacked them. They allegedly ruined their five tin-shed rooms and six thatched rooms. They also looted six cows, 10 goats, a shallow water pump and cash amounting to Tk 10 lakh. They beat inmates of the houses sustaining injuries to 20 people including four women. Local people tried to protect the victims, but they gave up in face of life threat.

The injured people are undergoing treatment in Dimla Upazila Health Complex while shelterless inmates passed two consecutive cold nights s under open sky.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

On information, police arrested 10 persons and recovered four cows and six goats from them.

A case was registered under Rapid Trial Act accusing 55 people.

However, main accused Khokon is absconding.

A platoon of police was deployed to prevent further attack by miscreants.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Nilphamari is in touch with latest development.