Crimes on rise as outlaws back to scene in Khulna div

At least 49 people were killed in Khulna division from January 1 to April 4 this year, indicating deterioration of law and order situation in the 'outlaw infested' region.
In previous three months from October 1 to December 31 last year, the number of murdered people was 13.
Other crimes have also marked a rise across Khulna division comprising Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jhenidah, Magura, Jessore, Narail, Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts.
According to data from law enforcement agencies and newspaper reports, at least 35 bomb attacks, 27 robberies, 13 rapes and around 100 incidents of extortion took place during the period while 15 bomb attacks and 15 robberies were recorded in last three months of 2008.
Of the murdered people during the last three months, ten were businessmen, most of them were killed for not fulfilling demands of extortionists, five political party men -- two from Awami League (AL) and three from BNP.
At least five outlaws were killed by their rivals during the period, while the rest were innocent people including students and farmers.
Fourteen of the murders occurred in January, 13 in February and 19 in March.
Kushtia district alone witnessed 16 murders while six murders took place in Khulna and Jhenidah each, five each in Jessore and Chuadanga, four in Satkhira, three in Meherpur, two in Bagerhat, one each in Magura and Narail.
On Saturday, criminals allegedly belonging to ruling AL chopped a farmer to death over dispute on a piece of land in Kushtia.
On Tuesday night, two outlaws were injured when the bombs carried by them blasted at Khalishakundi village in Daulatpur under the district.
Police arrested one of them in hospital.
Several outlawed parties and gangs have resumed their criminal activities in the region after regrouping under around 50 kingpins who returned after remaining absconding for a long time, said sources including in law enforcers.
Some ruling party leaders allegedly maintain close relations with outlawed leaders and cadres who are seen even to accompany the political leaders as 'party men'.
Sources claimed that law enforcement agencies including Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and police have become silent about the criminals after this government took over.
Some high officials of police under Khulna range said they have information about increased criminal activities in some pockets in the region while several leaders of ruling and other political parties have links with different criminal gangs and outlawed parties.
Despite crackdown on outlaws under at least 10 special drives including Operation Clean Heart and Operation Spider Web during the last few years, there has been no let up in their activities.
At least 64 murders took place in 10 districts in 2008 while the number was 130 in the previous year, sources said.
Thirteen outlawed parties active in the region are PBCP-ML, PBCP-Janajuddho, PBCP-Red Flag, PBCP-Communist War, Biplobi Communist Party, New Biplobi Communist Party, Gono Bahini, Gono Mukti Fouz, Banglar Communist Party, Socialist Party, Biplobi Anuragi, Chhinnamul Communist Party and Sarbahara People's Mancha.
The parties have around 5,000 active cadres in different areas of the region.
Around 518 criminals were killed in 'crossfire' with law enforcers in the region since August 2004.