Meherpur police have launched an 'unusual' drive against local extortionists.
Though they are yet to nab any of the extortionists but the drive earned public praise as it was aimed at the ruling party leaders and activists in the district.
Locals said they saw the ruling party men committing crimes during previous regimes but never saw any such drive to arrest them.
According to police, they launched the drive to nab eight extortionists on specific charges. The accused are Meherpur Sadar upazila Jubo League president Anwar Hossain Anu and secretary Al-Mamun, leader of unit Sazzadul and cadres Nasir, Zia, Ripon, Happy and Rana.
Police said around five hundred villagers led by Amjhupi Union Parishad (UP) chairman Borhan Uddin Chunnu brought out a procession on Saturday.
They went to the house of ruling party lawmaker from Meherpur-1 Joynal Abedin in the evening and handed over written allegation of looting fish by Jubo League leaders Anwar Hossain Anu, Al-Mamun and Sazzadul.
Sources said the Jubo League leaders along with their cadres went to Chadbeel water body and looted around 500kg fish from the fish farmers.
Allegation is there that Jubo League cadres Nasir, Zia, Ripon, Happy and Rana also demanded illegal toll from brick kiln owner Abul Kashem in Kathuli area in Sadar upazila on the same day.
Sources said the Jubo League men equipped with arms went to the brick kiln at about 7:30pm and demanded Tk 5 lakh from Kashem. They also threatened the brick kiln owner with dire consequences in case of failure to pay the amount.
On receiving the allegations lawmaker Joynal Abedin asked police to arrest those involved in the incident.
Police said they raided the houses of the extortionists in different areas of the district on Saturday and Sunday night but failed to arrest them.
Meanwhile in Chuadanga, criminals belonging to 'Korban Bahini' looted five houses at Chilabhalki village under Alamdanga upazila on Saturday night.
The gang also exploded several bombs creating panic among the people.
According to villagers, a gang of about 15/20 led by ring leader Korban stormed into the houses of Ahad, Altaf, Razzak and Moksed at about 12:30am.
Taking the family members hostage at gunpoint, the gang looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables.