Hunt for stalkers proves futile

Police arrested 32 people yesterday at the city's Nikunja in a hunt for the gang of stalkers who attacked a police team on Tuesday injuring four of them and snatched a firearm.
But the looted pistol was yet to be recovered.
Police picked up local shopkeepers and hawkers while the real culprits were hiding, locals said.
A group of youths had been teasing two sisters Shakira Khatun Mitu and Sanjida Nasrin Simu for the last one and a half years. On Tuesday, their maternal uncle Nasir called police, and as the police arrived in the area, the stalkers swooped on the law-enforcers and looted a pistol injuring four of them.
Last month, Simu filed a general diary with Khilkhet Police Station against the stalkers.
Meanwhile, Mitu and Simu expressed concern over their security when Home Minister Sahara Khatun visited their Nikunja residence.
IGP Nur Mohammad, DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque and other top ranking police personnel accompanied the minister.
The sisters urged the minister to ensure punishment of the stalkers while the minister assured them of their security.
"Inspector general of police (IGP), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner and other law-enforcers are present here. They will ensure your security. If they fail, please come to my house," said Sahara Khatun.
She said the country is independent but not women and they are still being harassed on roads and even at home.
The home minister also promised to take stern action against the stalkers and the criminals who took away the firearm.
The minister also talked to the girls' mother Shahnaz Begum who is their only guardian here as their father stays in Dubai.
"I have information that the criminals are using the name of ruling Awami League not only for stalking girls but also for grabbing land and carrying out extortion in the area," she said.
The criminals have become so ferocious that they now dare to attack law-enforcers and snatch their firearms, she noted.
Locals said one local Sramik League leader Faruque alias Mental Faruque and his brother Ekabbar have been leading all kinds of criminal activities using the name of AL.
The home minister mentioned that she had asked police not to spare any criminals whatever their political identity.
Sahara Khatun also visited the injured policemen who were undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Nikunja.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) AKM Hafiz Akhter of Gulshan division said, “We have so far detained 32 people and are trying to find out the real culprits”.
Khilkhet police said no case was filed in connection with the attack on police and snatching of the firearm.
The DC said they were taking time to identify the criminals to avoid harassment of the innocents.