Mayhem in Sunamganj: No case, yet Jhumon in jail for 7 days

Niva Rani Das, mother of Jhumon Das Apon, yesterday demanded release of her son.

Police detained Jhumon on March 16 over an alleged Facebook post criticising a statement of Hefajat-e Islam leader Mamunul Haque.

The next day, a mob of several hundred Hefajat supporters attacked, vandalised and looted 90 Hindu houses in Noagaon village of Sunamganj's Shalla.

"For seven days, I have not been able to know his location and to see him," Niva said at a press conference at the Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh's office in the capital.

At the press conference, organised by Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot, she said, "Her son was handed over to the police on Tuesday [March 16] night. Next morning, I went to Shalla Police Station to see him but failed. That morning, they [Hefajat supporters] attacked our village, looted everything from my house and broke a hand of my daughter-in-law [Jhumon's wife]."

Demanding release of her son, the mother said, "There is no case against him."

Jhumon was sent to jail after being produced before a Sunamganj court under section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In another development, a Sunamganj court yesterday granted remand for 30 accused of two cases filed in connection with the attack, vandalism and looting valuables from Hindu houses.

Senior Chief Judicial Magistrate Shyam Kanta Sinha granted a five-day remand for prime accused Shahidul Islam Swadhin and a two-day remand for 29 other accused, said Salim Nawaj, court inspector of Sunamganj police.

Earlier, the investigation officer of the cases prayed for a 10-day remand for Shahidul and a five-day remand for others.

So far, 34 accused of the cases have been arrested.

Meanwhile, Gonoshasthaya Kendra Founder and Trustee Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury visited the village yesterday.

During the visit, Dr Zafrullah said the attack was planned and demanded a judicial probe into the mayhem.

He also claimed that Awami League men with Hefajat supporters carried out the attack.

"It's a shame that the village was attacked on the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We never fought for these days and this independence," he said, demanding the probe report in seven days.