Intelligence wing members of law enforcement agencies have kept a close watch on thousands of top and mid ranking leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam and various Qawmi Madrasas across the country to trace those who were actively involved in the violence during the platform’s May 5 Dhaka siege programme.
Law enforcers have already raided a number of such madrasas located in Kanchpur, Siddhirganj, Ashulia, Fatulla, Keraniganj, Gazipur and Savar based on statements of Hefazat men and its secretary general, Junaid Babunagri, who have already been arrested for the vandalism, arson and attacks on law enforcers during the programme.
Qawmi madrasa teachers are also under surveillance as they allegedly had mobilised students without permission of guardians during the programme in the name of protecting Islam. A number of them have also been arrested from different areas of the country including Manikganj, Narayanganj and Khulna districts in connection with May 5 violence and are being interrogated.
The personal and political backgrounds of Hefazat leaders are also being checked to identify and search out those behind the violence.
Sources in the law enforcement agencies said the detained Hefazat activists have claimed during interrogation that most of the Hefazat men and their associates from BNP and Jamaat who were involved have gone into hiding.
Until now, the intelligence wings have identified 500 people, who were directly involved in the May 5 havoc, using photographs printed and footages aired in the media. Most of the identified are activists of Hefazat, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS).
Detective Branch Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said the finding conforms to the statements given by detained Hefazat men, who also claimed that Jamaat and BNP leaders provided financial support. “We are drawing up a list of opposition activists directly tied to the May 5 violence in the capital.”
However, Dhaka city unit convener of Hefazat, Maulana Nur Hossain Kashemi, and member-secretary, Maulana Junayed Al Habib, recently alleged in a statement that the government was harassing their leaders by filing ‘false’ cases to thwart their movement.
They also alleged the raids at the Qawmi madrasas were part of a blueprint to that end.
A total of 23 criminal cases, including three for murder, were filed against 100 identified and over several thousand unidentified criminals, mostly Hefazat, BNP and Jamaat men, over the atrocities in the capital. At least 11 people, including a police sub-inspector, were killed and scores injured in violence during the Hefazat’s Dhaka siege and grand rally.
In this regard, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (media and Publication) Masudur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune that nearly hundred people arrested on that day and they were being grilled.
He said, of the cases, six including two murder cases were filed with Motijheel police accusing over 1,500 people, 12 including one murder case were filed with Paltan police accusing 1,500 and two cases were lodged with Shahbagh police station accusing 1,500.
“Three cases were filed with Ramna police station against 7,000-8,000 Hefazat and Jamaat-Shibir activists on charges of vandalism, arson and attacks on police,” officer-in-charge of the station, Md Shah Alam, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Besides, cases have been filed against 194 identified people with Paltan police station while cases filed against over 200,198 unnamed people with Motijheel, Shahbagh and Ramna police stations.
Hefazat men were also accused of torching the holy Quran, vehicles, roadside shops, vandalising public and private properties, looting and attacking law enforcers.
Of the 12 cases filed with Paltan police station, one was filed against 60 people including Hefazat Secretary General Junayed Babunagri on charges of burning the holy Quran.
