Fake identities keep 27 JMB men out of charge sheet
Eleven of 30 charge-sheeted militants also absconding
Remains of illegally felled tress on the premises of Old Hostel of MM College in Jessore town bear testimony to the looting of 15 trees from the campus during the last six months, allegedly by leaders and activists of Chhatra League. Photo: STAR
Police has failed to file charge sheet against 27 most wanted Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) men active in the area as their real identities are yet to be found. Besides, 11 of the 30 charge-sheeted accused are still fugitive, much to the worry of law enforcers and locals. Police suspect that JMB activists are now using fake names and addresses to dodge law enforcers. On December 30, police pressed charges against 30 activists of banned JMB at a Nilphamari court in a case filed in connection with conspiring to foil parliamentary election of December 29 in 2008 and preparing for subversive activities. Of them, 19 are behind the bar and 11 are still fugitive. "Fourteen of the 19 arrested accused made statements under Section 164 of the CrPC confessing their involvement. As per their confessional statements to court and police, they are members of a network of 57 JMB activists. Of them, identity details of 27 people could not be found although some of them are 'Ehsar' (full-time) members of JMB," the investigation officer (IO) of the case, Sub-Inspector Mozaharul Islam of Jaldhaka Police Station said. He said he found evidence of 57 JMB men's involvement but did not mention names of all of them in the charge sheet as identity details of 27 activists could not be found. On December 2 in 2008, Jaldhaka police seized some CDs and leaflets from a courier service office in Jaldhaka municipality. Those CDs and leaflets contained speeches of Osama Bin Laden and executed JMB leaders Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai. The CDs, also containing speeches asking people to keep themselves away from parliamentary polls of December 29, 2008 and prepare for 'jihad', were ready to be sent to a number of important persons of different places. Jaldhaka police lodged a case on December 4, 2008 in this connection. Police raided different areas of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat and could arrest 19 of them so far. Police also seized many 'jihadi' books, notebooks and documents on making firearms and bombs, JMB's training manual, photo of different parts of AK-47 assault rifle and weapons from their possession. The arrestees were also made accused in a separate case under Arms Act. "Possibility of subversive activities by fugitive and unidentified JMB men cannot be ruled out as some of them might be high ranking outfits as per information available. Police is trying their best to arrest them," Nilphamari Superintendent of Police Golam Rasul told this correspondent.
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