'Land grabbers' open fire on villagers

At least 12 people sustained injuries including six with bullets as an influential man and his goons fired shots, vandalised and looted valuables from 20 houses in Kauwatikri village under Singra upazila yesterday.

The attackers also made off with 17 cattle from the houses, but the police recovered and returned those to their owners, said Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Singra Police Station.   

The followers of Harun Kazi attacked the villagers who had formed a human chain on December 5, alleging that a market, built by Harun Kazi, encroaching on a government canal has been causing waterlogging and flooding in their village, the OC said quoting the villagers.

"Harun Kazi fired at the villagers from his licensed firearm and police are trying to arrest the criminals," the OC said, adding that the situation was under control.

The six who received bullet injuries -- Ramizul Islam, 32, Alam Hossain, 30, Aiyub Ali, 40, Wahed Ali, 45, Alamgir Hossain, 25, and Abdur Razzak, 45 -- were given treatment at Singra Upazila Health Complex and they were out of danger, he also said.

One of the villagers, Farid Ali, said Harun Kazi and Samad Mridha have long been grabbing public land, but no one dares to protest as they are powerful in the area. They attacked the villagers as they demanded punishment of the two from the human chan.    

Rafiqul Islam, a farmer, also claimed that Harun Kazi and his men attacked and vandalised around 20 houses. They also looted valuables and 17 cattle from their houses.

Dahia Union Parishad chairman Abul Kalam said, "Harun Kazi and his followers launched an armed attack on the villagers. I demand immediate arrest of the criminals and recovery of the arms."

Harun Kazi, however, denied all the allegations made against him and claimed that the residents of Kauwatikri village attacked Parila village, vandalised three motorbikes and looted valuables. "I built the market on my own land."