Outlaws still out of control in 3 southwestern districts

According to intelligence sources and police, Janajuddho killed at least 22 people in the three districts in last the six months.

The victims included political leaders, public representatives, businessmen, police informers and 'rivals' in the outlawed outfits.

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Police said, the 22 killed by Janajuddho include two ruling BNP men, one Awami League (AL) activist, three Union Parisahd members and one municipality chairman. The rest are businessmen, police informers and 'rivals' in factions of outlawed parties.

The outfit also made at least 20 bomb attacks in different areas of the districts during the period, killing three people and injuring at least 35.

In their bomb attack on May 22, BNP leader Suman was killed at Mahiskhola village in Gangni upazila of Meherpur district. On April 13, two persons including housewife Fatema Begum were killed on the spot at Pucca village in Jibonnagor upazila in Chuadanga district.

Meanwhile, during March and this year, outlaws also launched bomb attacks on a brick field, a construction firm office and at Modern square in Jhenidah town, injuring at least six people. They also hurled bombs on a Union Parishad office office at Koatchandpur upazila headquarters and also on Shailakupa upazila BNP leader Idris Ali in Jhenidah.

Following the spate of murders and bomb attacks, police launched a special anti-crime operation. But the drive yielded a poor result. Only seven Janajuddho cadres were arrested from Bonpara village in Koatchandpur upazila.

Two arrestees -- Sohel and Mizanur-- confessed to their involvement in bomb attack at Pucca village in Jibonnagar upazila in which two persons were killed.

Acting on their confession, police arrested four alleged cadres of the outfit -- Shahin, Monir, Mannan and Rezaul--from Koatchandpur.

Following the leads extracted from them, police on May 13 arrested another Janajuddho cadre--Afangir alias Kalu-- from a slum near Jhenidah Cadet College. Police also seized 5 kg explosives and some leaflets of PBCP Janajuddho from there.

Kalu in his confessional statement before a magistrate made under Section 164 said Janajuddho cadres are now out to avenge the 'crossfire killings' of party men in Jhenidah and adjoining districts.

According to his confession, there may be more killings and bomb attacks as Janajuddho has vowed to 'eliminate' its 'rivals' and 'class enemies', police and intelligence sources said.

"Now, PBCP-Janajuddho is the most powerful outfit because they are being sheltered by local leaders of two major political parties to use its cadres in the next parliamentary election", a high ranking police official in Khulna range said while talking to this correspondent over cell phone.

Jhenidah Police Superintendent Akram Hossain also shared the same view and said, he is determined to check outlaws' destructive activities.

This correspondent also talked to a Janajuddho leader who responded to a cell phone call from his hideout but declined to be named.

"Peace loving innocent people are not our target. We did not kill any innocent man. We kill traitors and those involved in misdeeds".

"Our struggle is to establish a society where the poor and labourers will get food", he claimed.