Musclemen of UP chairman tyrannise villagers
One of the 15 houses damaged during September 3 attack on 'opponents' by the gang led by Dulu Munshi at Kotakol village in Lohagara upazila of Narail district. The gang, backed allegedly by the local union parishad chairman, also injured 10 people on the day. Photo: STAR
People of Kotakol village under Lohagara upazila in the district have remained hostage to atrocities by Dulu Bahini, allegedly a hired gang of UP charman, for over three months amid inaction by local police. The villagers described their ordeal when the deputy commissioner (DC) of Narail accompanied by the district superintendent of police (SP) and Lohagara police station officer in charge (OC) visited the village yesterday. The DC and SP instructed Lohagara OC to take action against the criminals. On September 3, Dulu Munshi and his men damaged and looted 15 houses of their 'opponents' and caused serious injuries to at least 10 people, locals told this correspondent during his visit to the village a couple of days ago. Ten more people were injured since the gang started their atrocities after the June 26 union parishad election. Local Awami League leader Khan Jahangir Alam, who contested the UP election as a 'rebel' candidate, defeated Hemayet Ullah Himu, the party-backed candidate, locals said. After the election, Jahangir's fellow Dulu Munshi started oppression and torture on the supporters of the defeated candidate. Shofikul Munshi, Nousher Ali, Monir Fakir, Azizur Rahman, Anarul, Imdadul and Mision are some of the people seriously injured by Dulu Bahini, the victims said, adding that the gang is too merciless to spare even woman, children and elderly people. Amid panic created by the criminals, more than 50 people including the family members of late freedom fighter Jalil Mollah of the village left their house while many others have to remain virtually confined to their houses most of the time. "On September 3, Dulu Munshi and his accomplices damaged my house and threatened me," Jahanara Begum, wife of late freedom fighter Jalil Mollah said. "As I lodged a general diary with Lohagara police station in this connection on September 12, the criminals got furious and on September 15 they demanded Tk 2 lakh. Getting panicked, I gave them Tk 50 thousand," she said. "As they threatened to kill my sons if I fail to give the rest, I filed a case against the criminals on September 23 but police is yet to arrest them," she said. Alladi Begum, wife of Salim Mollah of Purbopar village under Digholia, said her husband has been living away from home after the union parishad election as Dulu Munshi threatened to kill him if he comes back. "Dulu's men forcibly took away my cow," said Syed Sheikh of Kotokol village. When contacted, Dulu Munshi said, "I am not involved with any incident of torture and repression at the village. My rivals are spreading rumours against me." Golam Mostofa, OC of Lohagara police station, said, "A case was registered with Lohagara police against Dulu Munshi and his accomplices on September 23. We are trying to arrest the accused." Locals, however, said Dulu Munshi is moving freely in the area.
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