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| Bangladesh |
| Fraudulent holy man held |
| 2010-04-13 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Police yesterday arrested fraud pir (spiritual leader) Amzad Hossain Bepari and three of his associates on charge of torturing several children and women in the name of treatment in Sirajdikhan. Amzad was arrested at his den in Khasnagar village under the upazila along with associates Nuru Member, 45, Kalam, 46, and Ilias, 60. Three cases were filed against Amzad and 15 others on charges of deception and attempted murder. The fraud pir is the main accused in each of the cases. Md Matiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sirajdikhan police, told The Daily Star the arrests were made around 10:30am following a report published on the Prothom Alo. The arrestees were taken to the police station for interrogation. Ironically, people are still crowding the den of Amzad, who claims to have been using different techniques to "heal" his "patients". Additional District Magistrate Hasanul Islam said everyone involved in the ring would be brought to book. He however said the administration was not aware of the matter so far. Assistant Superintendent of Police Saiduzzaman Faruqui said the arrestees are being interrogated. He said Amzad has already given some important information and the police are working on it to trap his other accomplices. The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) is also working on the activities of the fraud pir. Rab local camp commander ASP Md Milon Mahmud said he came to know about Amzad's activities about a week ago. He said he was waiting for Thursday as the number of visitors is usually the highest on that day. Superintendent of Police Md Shafiqul Islam said Amzad is illiterate. He only knows two suras (chapters of the holy Quran) but also makes mistakes while reciting those. Sakira Begum of Naigaon village in Sirajdikhan said the fraud pir used to beat up his "patients" to "heal" them. Sources say several people got the share of money Amzad collected from his "patients" through his so-called treatment. Besides the arrestees, Aslam Matbar, 45, Khaleque Matbar, 60, Sayeed Matbar, 50, Hossain Mollah, 40, and Ruhul member are also involved in the clique led by Arab Ali, the sources add. They have gone into hiding since the report published on the Prothom Alo. Surat Ali, 60, Manjil, 35, Amir, 40, used to collect money on behalf of the fraud pir in the so-called treatment sessions. Amzad was an expatriate in the Middle East for 11 years but failed to change his lot. He returned home about four months ago and started pulling rickshaws and vans. Amzad opened a den at his own house in Khasnagar about two months ago. When the number of patients increased he opened a 20-bed "hospital". He set up a so-called and peculiar hospital at his village home. A scaffold of bamboos and jute sticks with tin roof, the only "doctor" of the hospital was Amzad in black turban, white punjabi and pyjama. Amzad used drum beats while "treating the patients". People from remote villages rushed to him when they even suffered from fever or cold. The people say Amzad applied a "dream treatment" on his "patients". Locals say he turned into a doctor taking advantage of the abject poverty of the villagers. He charged fees ranging from Tk 10 to Tk 100. Those who were unable to pay in cash gave him vegetables from their fields. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 "He has a den?" "You should see the rumpus room." |
| Posted by: mojo 2010-04-13 01:26 |