Protesting Drug Peddling: Aimed at teacher, gunshot by JU BCL leader hits own associate

A Chhatra League leader of Jahangirnagar University allegedly fired several rounds of bullets targeting a college teacher, as he protested his peddling drugs in the area. Meanwhile, the teacher was able to save himself and one of the bullets hit an associate of that BCL leader.

The incident took place around 6:30pm on Thursday near the residence of Dr Monsur Ali, the college teacher. Dr Ali filed a case with Ashulia Police Station on Friday night over the incident against seven persons.

He is a lecturer at JU School and College in Pandhoa Purba Para area, right behind JU campus, said police and local sources.

The accused BCL leader is Shamim Osman Gani Mollah, a student of history department at JU and organising secretary of the university unit of BCL. The injured is his associate Abul Hossen, who is now undergoing treatment at a hospital under police custody, said law enforcers.

According to locals and police, a gang, led by Shamim and one Hassan (a JU student), has been involved in peddling drugs in the area for a while. Locals often protested it but to no avail, they said.

On Thursday evening, Shamim, Hassan and their five associates gathered near Dr Ali's house and parked their four motorbikes there. When he asked them to move those, they allegedly misbehaved with him.

As he protested, Shamim fired three rounds of bullets at him and one of the bullets hit his associate Abul Hossain's right hand, Dr Ali told The Daily Star.

"I was lucky that it [the bullet] did not hit me," he said. "I've been living in this area for a long time. It's a family neighbourhood and we try to keep it safe for our children."

"But I've been noticing presence of drug peddlers here, and had been protesting that." Later, the matter was reported to police, he added.

Dr Ali further alleged that Shamim and Hassan, a year ago, misbehaved with his neighbour Prof Habibullah as he too protested their drug peddling.

This newspaper also spoke with Prof Habibullah, who is currently working at National Curriculum and Textbook Board.

He said a group of youth led by Shamim and Hassan wanted to beat him with a stick in front of his house. "We did not say anything about it and kept quiet," he added.

The Daily Star could not reach Shamim or Hassan for comments as both of their mobile phones were turned off. Police said both are on the run after the incident.

Contacted, Harun-ur-Rashid, a sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, who visited the spot after the incident, said Abul Hossen is being treated at Savar Enam Medical College Hospital under police custody.

Quoting locals, the SI said, "We heard that JU BCL leader Shamim Mollah fired the shots. There were seven of them in total."

"Abul Hossen is an associate of Shamim and Hassan. We got to know the names of five people. Efforts are on to arrest them and to know about the source of the weapon," said Rashid, also the case's investigation officer. "We are also quizzing Hossen." 

He did not elaborate further.

Asked, Jewel Rana, president of JU unit of BCL, admitted that Shamim is a BCL leader.

Regarding the incident, he said, "I'm yet to know the details. Organisational action will be taken against him if he's involved in the incident."

Meanwhile wishing anonymity, several students of JU alleged that besides being involved in drug peddling, Shamim often used to threaten journalists at the university, beat students and brandish firearms on the campus.