Ex-Jamaat leader, cohorts accused of attacking, looting 14 houses in Jashore
Around 40-50 armed men were involved in the attack that lasted for hours, according to locals and victims
At least 14 houses were reportedly vandalised and looted in Rupdia of Jashore Sadar upazila yesterday (13 April) allegedly by a former Jamaat-e-Islami leader and his supporters.
Around 40-50 armed men were involved in the attack that lasted for hours, according to locals and victims.
Easybike driver Milon Hossain, one of the victims of the attack, filed a case accusing former ameer of Jamaat's Rupdia union Khabir Kha, and 40-50 unnamed others with the Jashore Kotowali Model Police Station on the day.
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Besides, alleged Jamaat supporters Jahid Ali, Ramzan Ali, Saddam Hossain, Zubayer Hossain have also been accused in the case, according to the case statement.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Bablu Khan confirmed the matter to The Business Standard today (14 April).
"A few Jamaat leaders have been sued over the incident. The matter is being investigated. So far, no one has been arrested," said OC Khan.
The victims alleged that Khabir Kha and his men are still asking them to leave their homes.
"They are threatening to burn our houses down if we do not leave. We fear that there might be another attack again at any time," said one victim, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The case statement mentioned that the accused attacked and vandalised Shariful Islam's house, causing a loss of Tk1.20 lakh. The attackers also took a gold pendant worth Tk70,000 from his wife Salma Khatun's house.
The case statement claims that the attackers looted cash and jewellery from the other victims' houses, including gold jewellery worth Tk1.05 lakh from the house of Razia, Tk60,000 in cash from Ismail's house, a pair of gold earrings from Priya's house, Tk70,000 in cash from Ansar's house, and Tk40,000 from Milon's house.
In addition, the attackers vandalised Siddique's house, causing a loss of Tk50,000 and looted Tk35,000 in cash.
Ansar, Sufia, Razia, Janu, Parveen and Salma Begum were injured in the indiscriminate beating of the attackers, it adds.
Khabir Kha could not be reached over the phone for a comment regarding the allegations.
However, Shahabuddin Biswas, the publicity secretary of the district Jamaat-e-Islami, said, "There was a long-standing dispute between the two parties [the victims and Khabir Kha] over land issues. The owner of the land is Khabir Kha. He had temporarily let the families stay on the same land 15 years ago.
"They have been forcibly staying by using the influence of local Awami League leaders. The issue has also been discussed at the local police camp and army camp. The families asked for a month, but even after that, they did not want to move from the place."
He also said, "This is their personal conflict. Local groups with vested interests are making it a political issue and spreading propaganda against Jamaat."
