JCD Attack on Agoiljhora Minority People
Dr Kamal visits area, demands punishment of culprits
Our Correspondent, Barisal
A joint team of human rights activists and legal aid providers led Dr. Kamal Hossain and former advisor to caretaker government Sultana Kamal yesterday visited Askor-Dushmi village in Agoiljhara upazila to probe last month's attack on some Hinhu families allegedly by JCD activists, which triggered massive protests by people. During the probe, the team talked separately to the victims and some local people. After the visit, they told journalists that the incidents that took place in the village should be probed and culprits punished. High police and administrative officials including Barisal Additional Police Superintendent Masruk Rahman Helal; Agoiljhora Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Latif Molla were also present at the village during the visit. The team also included Ajoy Dasgupta, chief joint editor of Samakal and Sohrab Hasan, columnist and associate editor of Jugantor. On the night of May 5, some JCD cadres allegedly led by Qayum Hossain Molla tried to abduct and rape a teenage daughter of Upen Bavallav. Local people caught Qayum but his associates snatched him away, injuring some persons including the victim's uncles Gobinda Ballav and Amol Ballav. The victim's family went to Ggailjhora police station to lodge a case, but were refused. Instead, police registered a case filed by the alleged attackers and arrested Gobinda. On May 19, the hoodlums led by Qayum again attacked their houses and set fire to the house of Upen Ballav. This time also when local people rushed to the police station, constable Abdur Razzak, sentry on duty, misbehaved with them and drove them out. Protesting this, hundreds of people brought out a procession on May 20. Additional DIG Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Assistant Police Superintendent GMK Aktarul Islam then visited the spot. Agoiljhara police accepted the case by the victims following orders from higher authorities.
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