Attack on traders: Emon among 10 sued for attempted murder

Friday's attack on two computer traders in the capital's Elephant Road took place as they refused to pay extortion money to the gang of top criminal Sanjidul Haque Emon, says the case statement.

However, sources said the attack might be linked to a power struggle between two top criminals -- Emon from Hazaribagh and Imamul Hasan Helal, alias Pichchi Helal, from Mohammadpur -- who are allegedly attempting to dominate the Multiplan Centre traders on Elephant Road.

The two were released on bail after the August 5 political changeover.

Two computer shop owners -- Wahedul Hasan Dipu, president of Elephant Road Computer Baboshayee Kallyan Samity (ECS), Ehteshamul Haque, joint general secretary of ECS Computer City (Multiplan Centre) -- were attacked by criminals with sharp weapons around 10:40pm Friday.

Wahedul, also the elder brother of Pichchi Helal, filed an attempt to murder case with New Market Police Station over the attack against 10 people and 20-25 unidentified others.

Emon, 52, was made the key accused in the case.

Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested Asiful Haque Asif alias Jhontu, 32, and Kawsar Mridha, 24, in connection with the attack.

The first information report (FIR) states that after August 5, the accused began demanding money from the Multiplan Centre traders. When they refused, the accused threatened them.

Ehteshamul and Wahedul, along with other traders in the market, resisted the extortion and harassment, which led to the accused becoming enraged. Then they carried out the attack, according to the case statement.

Ehteshamul, who was hacked during the attack, is now undergoing treatment at a city hospital.

Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday, Wahedul, who was elected ECS president on December 28 last year, said he received a phone call from someone identifying himself as Chanchal a few days before the ECS election.

"During the conversation, another man, who introduced himself as Emon, joined the call, and demanded a monthly payment from me that I refused," he said, adding that he then hung up.

Wahedul, however, denied any involvement of his brother Pichchi Helal in the incident.

SN Nazrul Islam, DMP additional commissioner (crime and operations), told this newspaper that the attack might have been due to disputes over the formation of the market committee and extortion.

"Top criminal Emon has been accused in the case, while the complainant is the elder brother of another top criminal Pichchi Helal," he said.

Nazrul added that they would also investigate whether a rivalry between the two top criminals played any role in the attack.

Emon and Pichchi Helal were among 23 gangsters listed by the police as "top terror" in 2001.