4 including Jamaat leader arrested in Natore for taking over 10 shops after owners resisted extortion
Baraigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Sarwar Hossain told, “A joint force arrested the accused last evening (28 July) in connection with the extortion case. They were sent to court on this morning.”
Four people, including a local Jamaat leader have been arrested in Natore's Baraigram upazila for allegedly locking up and taking over 10 shops in Ahmadpur Bazar when the owners refused to pay extortion money.
The arrested individuals were sent to jail this afternoon (29 July).
Baraigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Sarwar Hossain told The Business Standard, "A joint force arrested the accused last evening (28 July) in connection with the extortion case. They were sent to court on this morning."
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"The occupied shops were recovered and handed over to their rightful owners," he added.
The arrested are Ruhul Amin, 45, president of ward no. 3 of Jamaat in Joari Union and a resident of Ahmadpur area, his brother and Jamaat activist Azimuddin, 40, local BNP activist Haidar Ali, 45 and Haidar's father Mujibur Rahman, 70.
According to police, Korban Ali, Shah Alam and Motaleb Hossain of Naupra village in the upazila had bought land and built 10 shops in Ahmadpur Bazar. They possess both SA and RS documents for the land and have been occupying it for around 70 years while paying regular land taxes.
Yesterday (28 July) around 11am, Ruhul Amin, Azimuddin, Haidar Ali, Mujibur Rahman and 40–50 others went to the market armed with sticks and demanded Tk5,000 per shop from the owners as monthly extortion.
When the owners refused, the accused locked the 10 shops and took control of them. They also allegedly threatened to kill the businessmen if they did not vacate the shops.
After the victims reported the incident to the local army camp and Baraigram Police Station, a joint team of police and army personnel launched an operation in the evening. They broke the locks and returned the shops to the owners, arresting four of the accused on the spot.
Motaleb Hossain said, "Abdul Malek, president of Jamaat-e-Islami in Joari Union, demanded Tk5,000 per month from each shop. We refused because we have possessed this land for 70 years. Angered, they locked up our shops. We informed the police and army and they recovered our shops quickly."
Before his arrest, Jamaat leader Ruhul Amin denied the extortion allegation and said, "We are the rightful owners of the land. It had long been out of our control. So, we went to reclaim it and demanded rent, not extortion. That is why this accusation arose."
