Killers still at large, family flees for insecurity

Over a month into the killing of Nikhil Joardar of Gopalpur upazila in the district, law enforcers are yet to arrest any of the killers of the tailor.

On the other hand, the family members of slain Nikhil cannot lead normal life since the murder and they have already left their houses on security ground.

Nikhil, 50, was hacked to death by unidentified assailants in front of his tailoring shop at Dubail Bazar in Gopalpur municipality area on April 31.

Hours after Nikhil's murder, terror outfit Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for it, said US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist activities globally.

During a recent visit to the victim's house, this correspondent found all rooms of the house locked.

Contacted over cellphone, Nikhil's wife Aroti Rani Joardar said she left the house due to security reasons and they are now living at a relative's house in the district town.

"Police kept our houses under watch till one month after the killing and then they left," she said.

"My relatives also left their houses just after police stopped watching," Aroti said, adding that they are now living at rented houses in the municipality area.

Police are trying their best to arrest the killers of Nikhil, said Aslam Khan, additional superintendent of police.

Following the killing of Nikhil, his wife Aroti filed a murder case with Gopalpur Police Station in this regard the same day against three unidentified assailants and their patrons.

Sub-Inspector Moksedul Alam of the police station filed another case under Arms and Explosive Substances Act in this regard the same day.

Police later detained three locals -- Rafiqul Islam Badsha, secretary of Gopalpur upazila unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Aminul Islam, principal of Alamnagar Madrasa in Gopalpur, and BNP activist Jhantu Miah of Birnolhara village in the upazila -- for their alleged involvement in the killing.

Of the arrestees, Aminul had filed a case against Nikhil for his alleged "derogatory comments" over Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on May 2, 2012, according to police and locals.