Posters, Leaflets at Katagari Bazaar

Outlaws threaten to kill 5 in Sirajganj

21 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj

Outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) pasted posters and distributed leaflets at Katagari Bazaar in Tarash uazila of Sirajganj district on Sunday night, threatening to kill five people if they stand against their 'movement'. The 'targets' are schoolteacher Ibrahim Hossain and Abdul Hannan of Saroil village, Joynal Abedin and Moslem Uddin of Shyampur village and Golam Hossain of Khidishuara village, police said, adding that they seized some of the posters and leaflets. Many outlaws, who had earlier went into hiding following operations by law enforcers, are now back to the scene and they are engaged in different crimes including abduction, robbery, murder and extortion. During the last few months, PBCP has set up safe havens in different remote chars (small islands) of Jamuna River and greater Chalon Beel region under Sirajganj, Bogra, Pabna and Natore districts as law enforcers' vigilance is rather lax due to poor communication facilities. Different chars and isolated villages in Kazipur, Belkuchi, Chowhali, Shahzadpur, Ullapara, Raiganj and Tarash upazilas of Sirajganj district, Sherpur, Dupchanchia, Nandigram and Kahalu upazilas of Bogra district, Singra and Gurudaspur upazilas in Natore district, Chatmohor, Ataikula and Atghoria upazilas in Pabna district have now become safe dens for the extremists, sources said. At daytime, the criminals remain unnoticed in the guise of general people or travellers and at night they come out in groups for organisational and anti-social activities, locals said. The criminals go into hiding when law enforcers take tough action but return to the area and become active again when there is laxity in vigilance, they said. According to police records, the outlaws have been carrying out their illegal activities in the region for about 20 years. Extremists attacked Gurudashpur Police Station in Natore and looted arms from there in 1986. In 2002, they killed four police personnel and looted firearms from Randhunibari police outpost in Sirajganj. In 2005, they killed two policemen and looted firearms attacking Bamihal police outpost in Natore. In the face of desperate operations by the outlaws, police outposts at Ranirhat in Sherpur upazila of Bogra district and Biash Bazaar in Singra upazila of Natore district had to be withdrawn. Outlaws shot dead Abdul Zalil, chairman of Ramkrisnapur union in Ullapara upazila in 1988, Afsar Ali, a member of Dhamainagor union parishad in Raiganj upazila, in 1987, Mostafa Kamal, a businessman in 1990, Ali Hassan, chairman of Talom union of Tarash upazila, and Anu, a robber leader at Ranirhat in Sherpur upazila of Bogra district in 1992 and Saiful Islam, chairman of Lahirimohonpur union in Ullapara upazila in 2006. They shot dead Abdul Ohab, Nityanjoy, Julmat and Dudu Mian at Biash Bazaar in Singra upazila of Natore district from 1997 to 2001, Anis, a rich farmer of Paril Boroichara village, and Abul Kalam Azad, a rich businessman of Katagari Bazaar in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj district, in 2008, as they refused to pay toll. They also killed Nuzab Ali Akanda, union parishad member Barat Ali of Amshara village, Shukur Ali, Moyan Ali Sarker of Gupinathpur village, Dulal and robber leader Gafur of Boalia village in Sirajganj district in the last few years. Outlaws shot dead Jubo League leader Shah Alam in Belkuchi upazila this year. Ten people including three policemen were injured in a gunfight between police and outlaws at Gurpipul village on December 8 this year. A gang of 40-45 outlaws ransacked four shops and three houses and took away valuables worth Tk 2 lakh after beating 10 people at Shahpur village in Belkuchi upazila on December 17 this year. At least 104 outlaws in the area surrendered to the police in 2007, police said. But many others, who had went into hiding, have become active again.