JL leader killed in broad daylight in Rajshahi
Armed assailants stabbed a Jubo League leader to death in broad daylight in Rajshahi yesterday.
The incident took place at Bagmara upazila's Taherpur market in the afternoon, said police quoting witnesses.
Chanchal Kumar Chondo, 42, vice president of Taherpur municipality unit of Jubo League, died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital at 5:00pm, said doctors.
The body had two stab injuries in the back and numerous bruises from beating with sticks, said police.
Bagmara was infamous for such frequent attacks by outlaws, who mostly targeted politicians and businessmen, in the 1990s. Also, in 2004, JMB men, using the banner of Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangldesh (JMJB), unleashed a reign of terror in the area.
Mohammad Shahidullah, superintendent of police in Rajshahi, said before breathing his last, Chondo, also a businessman, identified the killers.
Police arrested one of the attackers named Biplob, as mentioned by Chondo. “We are not sure whether it was carried out by any outlaw gang as claimed by his family members,” the SP said.
The incident might have taken place over a feud centring on forming a school committee, said the SP, without elaborating further.
Meanwhile, Chondo's younger brother Amol Kumar said his brother mentioned names of some outlaws. “My brother said one of the attackers was one Art Babu. He said he was astonished to see Babu as he was convicted by a court.”
Amol said Chondo took his three-year-old son to Taherpur market around noon yesterday. While returning, he was attacked by a group of around 12 persons armed with firearms and knives, Amol added.
“I was at the market. I saw my nephew with an unknown man and a crowd gathered around him. When I inquired, the man said some men were beating Chondo.”
Amol took his critically injured brother to Taherpur hospital; he was shifted to RMCH later.
Contacted, Taherpur municipality Mayor Abul Kalam Azad said, “Chondo was loyal to me. The incident might have taken place over my feud with the local lawmaker [Rajshahi-4].” He also claimed that “outlaws” who the lawmaker sheltered, killed Chondo.
Lutfar Rahman, sub-inspector of Taherpur police outpost, said the murder took place two hours after some men loyal to the mayor beat up a headteacher of a local school on its premises at 10:00am. “The two incidents might be connected. We are looking into the matter,” he added.
Many of the locals, wishing anonymity, said the headteacher was follower of the local MP.
The Bagmara lawmaker could not be contacted despite numerous attempts.
The incident created much tension in the area. Around a hundred followers of the mayor were demonstrating at the market till filing of this report at 7:30pm.
Mentionable, both the lawmaker and Taherpur municipality mayor bought Awami League nominations to contest the national polls from Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara) constituency.
The lawmaker got the party ticket.