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Relatives of accused threaten to kill Shahanur Biswas
[Dhaka Tribune] Shahanur Biswas did what any father would when his daughters faced constant sexual harassment ‐ he protested. In retaliation, he was brutally attacked on October 16 by a gang of youths including a local UP member of Kaliganj in Jhenaidah that led to both his legs being amputated.He is now being treated at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in Dhaka. On Wednesday, 14 of the accused surrendered before a court and were sent to jail following a High Court’s order, but Shahanur’s family is receiving threats from the family members of the accused. His elder daughter Sharmin Akhter used to attend Jessore Women’s College but her studies abruptly ended in 2013 because of the constant sexual harassment by the stalkers. "They used to block my path while going to class and repeatedly propose marriage. They also threatened to throw acid on my face if I rejected their proposal and now they have attacked and maimed my father because he protested," Sharmin said. Her younger sister Shahana Akhter, who is a class VII student, stopped going to school after the same gang of stalkers, who are also involved in drugs business and crimes in the area, after the attack on her father Shahanur. Some days before the attack, Shahanur of Noldanga village informed one Shahin, the son of former UP member Mohsin, and another villager about his daughters’ harassment and asked them to settle the matter. But it only worsened the situation. Shahanur was attacked on October 16 soon after Shahin discussed the matter with Kasthavanga Union Gay Pareehad member Kamal, also the general secretary of the union unit Jubo League ... the youth wing of the Bangla Awami League... According to Shahanur’s wife Arjina Begum, UP member Mehbubur’s son Azad, UP member Kamal and their supporters -- Jahid, Hasan, Billal, Imdadul and Dukhu -- conducted the attack with crowbar and rods. They first hacked his legs and severed his tendons while Mehbub and Kamal shot at his legs from pistols. He was first taken to Jessore Sadar Hospital and then to NITOR, where doctors amputated his legs from thighs on October 29. As the local police refused to register a case, Yakub Ali, Shahanur’s brother-in-law, filed a case with the District Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court on October 17. Later, Shahanur’s elder brother Samaul Biswas filed a separate case against 16 people, including the seven persons accused in the first case. UP member Mehbubur’s elder son Kajal and his accomplices have threatened to kill them when the detainees are released. "Nobody is bothering you now, but when the media attention dies down and they are released from jail, we will torch your house and kill you all," Kajal reportedly threatened Shahanur’s elder brother Samaul Biswas. "Three cases have been filed against me at the local cop shoppe including an extortion case, although I have no connection to any of these incidents," Shahanur said. Shahanur wants to return home but fears further attacks as the accused are very powerful in the village. "I am not sure when I would be able return since the police seems to be conspiring and raising false charges against me by taking bribes from the accused party." Dhaka Tribune tried to contact Kaliganj police OC Aminul Islam over his official number, but could not reach him. Sub-Inspector Imran received the call and said the OC was unable to talk due to physical illness. "There is nothing to fear at all. May be they have been misinformed. All the accused have been nabbed You have the right to remain silent... and sent to jail; they will be punished according to the law," Jhenaidah Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune, dismissing the allegations against the police. Posted by: Fred 2016-11-27 |
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