Victim's family under threat by accused on bail

All the eight arrestees came out on bail on Tuesday and are threatening a minority Christian family in Jessore's Sharsha upazila of dire consequences.

Victim Solomon Das, 55, of Gilapole village, alleged that the eight accused, arrested in connection with a case filed for attacking his house and looting valuables on Saturday night, came out on bail and are threatening his family members.

Fearing attack, one of his daughters stopped attending her college, he said.

“As the gang keeps threatening us continuously we are feeling very insecure,” Solomon said.

Meanwhile, a group of human rights activists from Jessore and Satkhira visited Solomon's house yesterday and talked to his family members.

Several villagers, on condition of anonymity, said Tariqul Islam Milon, a member of Ward No 1 under Ulashi union, has been demanding money from Solomon in a bid to grab his land.

As Solomon refused to pay the money, a group of men loyal to Milon, attacked Solomon's house on Saturday night and looted valuables and gold ornaments.

The gang also harassed Solomon's father, wife and two daughters, villagers said.

Later, following a case filed by Solomon with Sharsha Police Station against 17 people around Saturday midnight, police detained the eight on Sunday morning.

In 2016, the same gang tried to kill his sister-in-law Maya Maria Karmaker by setting her on fire, Solomon said, adding that none of the seven accused in the case have been arrested yet.

Ulashi Union Parishad Chairman Alhaj Aynal Haque said Milon and his men illegally rule a local park where almost all types of anti-social activities occur.

He has always been protesting their illegal activities, the chairman said.