Over 1,000 men from five villages under Fursundi union in Jhenaidah sadar upazila went into hiding, fearing arrest in connection with the cases filed for killing two farmers during tri-party clash on January 18.
As men are not staying at their houses, the women are passing their nights in insecurity. They are also not sending their kids to school for fear of being harmed.
Farmers Arif Hossain, 22, and Shah Alam, 12, were gunned down during a tri-party clash among the supporters of Awami League leader Abdul Malek, Union Parishad Chairman Shahidul Sikder, and police personnel at Tikary village.
About 30 BNP men were accused in the murder cases. But police could not find out who were responsible for the double murder even after nine days had passed after the killing.
Ali Kadar, a farmer of Fursundi village, said people from a rival group had looted his four goats and a shallow machine during the clash.
He said supporters of Abdul Malek had done the misdeed as like many villagers he was the supporter of Sahidul Chairman.
Police said supporters of Advocate Abdul Malek had attacked the law enforcers following a clash between Malek and his rival also another Awami League leader Shahidul Sikder, better known as Shahidul Chairman, over establishing domination in the locality on the day.
The villagers said at least 53 shallow machines, more than 150 cows and other belongings had been looted from five villages under Fursundi union in last nine days after the clash.
Residents of Tikary village – Saidul Islam, Nasir Biswas, Altaf Hossain, Abdur Razzaque and Abdul Majid – said they were not staying at home to avoid arrest.
Afzal Biswas, Abdul Aziz and Liakat Ali, residents of Dahakola village, said although it was harvesting time of lentil and mustard, they were not able to take the crops to home.
Shila Khatun, daughter of Altaf Biswas of Tikary village, said supporters of Abdul Malek had looted her gold chain, mobile phone and other accessories soon after the killing.
Bina Khatun, Majeda Khatun and some other women were also physically tortured.
Residents of Dakakola village said they had damaged the bamboo made bridge which was the only the means for crossing river.
Some villagers said both Arif and Shah Alam were killed when police opened fire on angry mob to disperse it.
They said rivals of the ruling party Awami League were locked in the clashes, but about 30 persons, including former chairman of the union and BNP district unit research secretary Ohidur Rahman, were accused in the murder case.
Ohidur alleged that his name was included in the case only for harassing him as he was involved with the BNP politics.
Local said feuds between Awami League leader Advocate Abdul Malek and Fursundi UP Chairman Shahidul Islam was well known to the locals.
UP Chairman Shahidul said no person from his group was involved in the clash; rather supporters of Abdul Malek had stabbed one of his nephews Sariful over a small matter.
On the other hand, Abdul Malek said armed terrorists of Shahidul Chairman, and not police, had shot two villagers dead. None of his men were involved in the killing, he added.
Officer-in-Charge of sadar police station Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury said they did not know how the two persons were killed. The investigation is going on, he said.
The law enforcers were deployed to maintain law and order in the locality. About the looting of goods, he said they would take actions against those involved in the looting.