Fear of Police Excesses, Attack by AL Men
200 villagers on the run for over six months
At least 200 people, including women and children, of Aruakandi village under Shailkupa upazila are on the run for over six months, fearing police harassment and attack by local AL activists over murder of a ruling party man.
Akkas Ali Tulu, son of Yousuf Shikdar of the village, was killed while returning home from Roira Bazaar on May 11. His wife Naznin Sultana filed a murder case with Shailkupa police station against 33 BNP activists of the village the following day.
Of the accused, 24 have been granted bail by a court while the rest are still absconding.
During his recent visit to Aruakandi village, some locals, seeking anonymity, told this correspondent that local AL leader Mokaddes Ali (Moka) and his men attacked the houses of BNP supporters, holding them responsible for the murder of Tulu.
Around 200 people had fled their homes and taken shelter in the district town and at their relatives' houses in other villages, fearing police harassment over the murder and fresh attacks by Mokaddes' men, they said.
Education of at least 94 students is being badly hampered as they have been staying at other places along with their parents since the incident, the villagers alleged, adding that police are harassing the common people while AL men are looking for BNP supporters.
Refuting the allegations, Mokaddes Ali said some BNP men swooped on him while he was returning home from a Jhenidah court on May 4 this year. When the news spread, the AL activists vandalised the houses of some BNP supporters at the village. Later, the BNP men had left the village, fearing reprisal for the attack, he added.
Accused Ansar Ali, 60, who is now on bail, said his two sons are staying in the town to escape police harassment and attack by AL men.
Police are yet to press charges against the accused. Contacted, Sub-inspector (SI) Shahidullah, also the investigation officer (IO) of Tulu murder case, said he will submit the charge sheet soon.
Denying the allegation of police harassment, officer-in-charge of Shailkupa police station Ahsan Habib said the situation at the village is now under police control. But the villagers are not returning home in fear of attacks by their rivals, he added.
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