Allahr Dal militants still active in Kushtia
Detained activists tell court, police
Activists of Islamist militant outfit Allahr Dal are regrouping and expanding their activities in Kshtia. It has 56 members including women in the district.
Members of the militant outfit are working among people to establish 'rule of Allah' as they do not have any respect for existing law in the country, according to confessions made by the nine activists before the court of First Class Magistrate Jalal Saifur Rahman.
According to their confession, they were carrying activities in the district since 2003.
The arrested militants are Nazmul Hasan, Tipu Sultan, Zahir Uddin, Tasnim-ul-Alam, Ranak Mohammad Rakib Mondol, Shafiqul Islam Sumon, Lokman Hossain, all hailing from different areas of Kushtia, Bappi Sharier of Manikganj and Murad Sharif of Faridpur district.
Tasnim-ul-Alam is the son of Abdul Wahed, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir of Kushtia. Tasnim was treasurer of the district unit of the outfit.
Earlier, during interrogation by Rapid Action battalion (Rab) the arrested militants also disclosed names of other party men in the district. Law enforcers said they are trying to arrest the rest.
Trial of the case began in Kushtia Speedy Trial Tribunal on August 26.
On August 20, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Kushtia Sadar police station Ismail Hossain submitted charge sheet of the case to a first class magistrate court, which framed charges on the same day.
Deposition of witnesses will be recorded in the court today, court sources said. The case was filed under the Emergency Powers Act, Section 6 (2).
Matin Mehedi, now detained, is the founder leader of Allar Dal. In his absence, one Salim, a man from Pabna, now runs the party, according confession of Kushtia district Nayak (district chief) of Allahr Dal Ranak Mohammad Rakib Mondol, made in the court on Sunday. He is a 3rd year student of Computer Technology at Kushtia Polytechnic Institute. Rakib also detailed the hierarchy of the party.
The nine activists were arrested along with books on Jihad by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a nightlong drive in different areas of the district on June 5. The drive was launched following a intelligence report that Allahr Dal activists were regrouping in the district.
Rab sources said they arrested 24 men and released 15 of them after interrogation.
Following interrogation after their arrest, Rab at a press conference said that the arrested persons admitted that they were members of Allar dal.
Rab handed over the nine militants to Kushtia Sadar police on June 6. Police on June 7 produced them before court, which sent them to jail.
Police filed a case against the militants under Emergency Powers Act on the basis of a written statement by Deputy Assistant Director of Rab-12 in Kushtia Ali Hossain.
Later, three of the militants were sent to Dhaka on June 10 for interrogation, police and Rab sources said.
They are Kushtia district Nayak Ranak Mohammad Rakib Mondol, Shafiqul Islam Sumon and Nazmul Hasan Jweel.
During interrogation in Dhaka, the three also admitted their that they were members of Allar Dal and were active in Kushtia.
They said two members --Shakil and Ashikboth first year students of Kushtia Government College, led party activities under supervision of Matin Mehedi and his 'deputy' Salim when it was launched in 2003. Matin Mehdi and Salim often visited Kushtia at that time. They took shelter at different students' messes in the town.
Ranak Mohammad Rakib Mondol was made district Nayak of the outfit in February 2007.
According to the hierarchy, a Nayak is the chief of the party in a district, followed by 'Thana Nayak' and 'Gram Nayak'.
District Nayak communicates with the party chief and is responsible for collecting money from members and sending it to Dhaka.
Kushtia district Jamaat Amir's son Tasnim joined the militant group in 2004 when he was second year student of Kushtia Government College. Ranak and Tasnim are friends. Tasnim was treasurer of the district unit since 2005.
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