Picked up, then found murdered
A central leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) was found murdered on the banks of the Karnaphuli river in Raozan upazila hours after he was picked up allegedly by law enforcers from his home in the port city on Wednesday night.
Nurul Alam Nuru, 40, was shot twice in the head. His hands were tied with rope and there were several injury marks on his body, said Nur Nabi, a sub-inspector of Raozan Police Station.
Family members and local BNP leaders said Nuru, assistant general secretary of JCD, was picked up by 10 people -- five each in police uniform and plainclothes -- from his rented home in Chandanpura area around 11:30pm Wednesday.
Yesterday morning, some locals noticed a body on the river banks in Thelar Char area and informed police, who recovered and sent it to Chittagong Medical College for autopsy.
Nuru hailed from Raozan upazila. After being informed, his family members went to the spot and identified his body.
Gazi Sirajullah, president of Chittagong city Chhatra Dal, said Nuru, a follower of BNP Vice-Chairman Gias Uddin Kader Chowdhury, was murdered “in a planned way”. The JCD is the pro-BNP student body.
He announced that they would enforce a half-day hartal in Chittagong division on Sunday, protesting the killing.
Talking to The Daily Star, BNP leader Gias Uddin claimed the family members of the victim identified SI Jabed (Sheikh Jabed Mia) of Raozan Police Station as one of those who had picked up Nuru.
He said Nuru was accused in several political cases, but was not a criminal. “He was murdered because of his political identity.”
SI Sheikh Jabed Mia, however, refuted the allegation. “It's not true. I was with my team which was carrying out an anti-militancy drive in Raozan when the Chhatra Dal leader was picked up.”
Contacted, Kefayet Ullah, officer-in-charge of Raozan Police Station, claimed no policeman was involved in the incident.
He said Nuru was facing at least four cases, including two for murder. “We are investigating whether he had enmity with anyone.”
Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Rangunia circle) Zahangir Alam said they would look into the matter.
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