45 hurt as Rab, villagers clash in Kushtia

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At least 45 persons were injured, one with bullet, during a clash between Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and villagers of Bahalbaria in Mirpur upazila of the district yesterday when the law enforcers went there to rescue an abducted man.

The Rab arrested seven persons including two women following the incident. They also rescued Nazir Hossain, who was abducted from the capital on May 20.

Villagers said three years ago four young men of the village–Sohel, Anwar, Al Amin and Reza–gave Tk 11 lakh to Rezaul who promised to send them abroad within a year. But Rezaul failed.

When the four asked him to return their money Rezaul started giving excuses.

Hailing from Sahebnagar village of Mirpur upazila, Rezaul resides in Tejgaon area in the capital. One of his brothers was an expatriate to Malaysia.

On December 16 last year, Rezaul went to the village with Nazir Hossain of Trishal in Mymensingh introducing him as an expatriate to Malaysia and gave further assurance about sending the young men abroad within six months. But Rezaul failed again.

Nazir, who lived with Rezaul, knew nothing about Rezaul’s taking money from the youths.

On May 20, the four went to Rezaul’s house in Dhaka but did not find him there. They picked up Nazir and took him to Bahalbaria and kept him captive.

They called Nazir’s family in Mymensingh over telephone and demanded Tk 11 lakh in return for his release.

Nazir’s family informed the Rab-12 office in Kushtia of the incident on Thursday.

At a press conference at its Kushtia office, the Rab said a plainclothes team of Rab personnel went to Bahalbaria at about 2:30pm and raided Al Amin’s house where Nazir was kept.

Finding Nazir, when the law enforcers tried to rescue him villagers including women attacked them and damaged one microbus of the Rab.

The law enforcers opened fire and charged truncheons to disperse the mob.

Abul Kalam, 22, son of Ferat Ali of the village, received a bullet injury and was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment, locals said.

Upon information a police team from Mirpur Police Station rushed to the spot and assisted the Rab personnel in controlling the situation.

The Rab arrested Bahalbaria Union Parishad Chairman Amirul Islam Bannu, 55, Rokeya Khatun, 25, Arzoo Khatun, 22, Shiplu, 30, Gahar Ali, 45, Masum, 25, and Piklu, 23.

When contacted, Rab-12 in-charge Major Amjad Hossain Mithu denied any incident of bullet injury, saying they opened blank fires only to disperse the mob.

On the arrest of the UP chairman, he told The Daily Star that Bannu was involved with the abduction and himself asked Nazir’s family members to meet him with the money. Amjad claimed that Bannu also provoked the villagers into attacking the Rab.

Major Amjad said he repeatedly contacted with Bannu over mobile phone and asked him to come to the spot but he ignored his call.

Three cases were filed against at least 100 villagers for abduction, attacking the law enforcers and damaging a Rab vehicle.

Rab said they would hand over the arrestees to Mirpur police after interrogation.

Police were deployed in the village.

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