Cops yet to arrest culprits despite having video
Although the Detective Branch of police has had several videos of the gruesome Kurmitola incident that killed 10 Biharis over one month ago, it is yet to arrest any culprit.
Following the June 14 attack, which the Biharis say was aimed at evicting them and grabbing their camp land in the capital's Mirpur, the community people had demonstrated for several days before giving up the hope for justice, as none of the culprits had been arrested.
Rather, police had detained seven Biharis for vandalism during the incident. They are on bail now.
The Urdu Speaking Peoples Youth Rehabilitation Movement, a platform of Biharis, yesterday held a press conference at the capital's Jatiya Press Club, announcing that they would launch tougher protests after Eid-ul-Fitr and sue the attackers.
Imtiaz Ahmed, deputy commissioner (Mirpur division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said he had handed over a CD to the detectives after collecting it from the Biharis. “The CD contains four to five pieces of footage of the incident taken by the cell phone.”
The DB has collected several other videos from various sources, said a police official, seeking anonymity. A mid-level DB official, who is investigating the incident, said they were still analysing the footage and having discussion with senior officials.
On June 14 morning, unidentified people set fire to several houses at the Kurmitola camp, burning alive nine of a family. Another Bihari man died after being hit by bullets fired by police.
Following the violence, six cases were filed against the Biharis for vandalism.
Shahid Ali, general secretary of the Biharis' platform, alleged that local Jubo League leader Jewel Rana led the attack.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yasin, who lost nine of his family members, told The Daily Star that he would lodge a case against the attackers once his daughter Farjana recovered from injuries.
Farjana sustained 17 percent burns to her body and is being treated in Dhaka Medical College Hospital. “My daughter's condition has not improved yet. I can't think of anything else but her till she gets well,” said Yasin, who lost six of his seven children in the arson. “Once she recovers, I'll discuss the next steps with my community leaders. I want justice.”
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