As darkness descends, Lakshmipur turns into a safe haven for miscreants who run amok creating anarchy in this southern district of the country.
Arson attacks, vandalism, mugging and all sorts crimes have been going unabated since the BNP-led 20-party alliance enforced the blockades and the hartals. Despite vigilance of law enforcers, so far three people have died due to arson attacks and a number of vehicles have been vandalised.
Moreover, since there are few vehicles on the streets at night, mugging has become common at various points of the district. The Faridganj-Raipur highway, Raipur-Lakshmipur highway, Singherpool, Rakhalia and Sikder road areas are especially vulnerable to such crimes.
According to police sources, miscreants hurled petrol bombs at a goods-laden pick up van on February 3 at Badamtali area of Lakshmipur police lines. Three people, including the driver of the van, were severely injured at that time. The driver, Kamal Hossain, 28, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on the following day.
On February 2, a CNG-run autorickshaw came under arson attack in front of the Mahila College while coming from Moju Chowdhury Haat at around 8pm. All the passengers of the vehicle received serious burn injuries. One of them, Liton, 35, died later on.
Earlier on January 30, a Chittaging-bound passenger bus lost control and fell into a roadside ditch after miscreants threw petrol bomb at it around 10pm. At that time, driver Nur-e-Alam Sumon, 35, was injured in the head and died on the way to Noakhali hospital.
Police said, since the blockade began a number of vehicles were vandalised and torched in Lakshmipur Sadar, Chandraganj, Raipur, Ramganj, Kamalnagar and Ramgati areas. Blockade supporters prefer the darkness of the night to carry on the attacks.
A Shibir activist, Nazim Uddin, 25, was arrested by police while vandalising an autorickshaw on February 2. A mobile court later sentenced him to one year imprisonment.
On January 31, a truck carrying cement was torched at Poddar Bazar road in the Sadar. Four autorickshaws were attacked as well. On the same night, a pickup van was set ablaze at Lengra bazar area.
On January 27, police arrested two Chhatra Dal activists with cocktails while they were preparing for attacks.
Miscreants, wearing masks, vandalised eight autorickshaws in front of Raipur police station on January 21.
At least four people were injured when miscreants hurled cocktails at a goods-laden truck at Joksin area on January 15.
When contacted, Mohsin Kabir Murad, communication secretary of district Jamaat-e-Islami claimed that Awami League activists were behind the attacks to destabilise Lakshmipur.
Expressing concern over the attacks, General Secretary of district BNP Sahab Uddin Sabu said no BNP men were involved with the attacks. “Hurling petrol bombs cannot be a way of launching movement. Awami League activists are behind all the incidents,” he alleged.
However, President of district Awami League M Alauddin denied such allegations and said BNP-Jamaat were killing people in coordinated attacks and everyone knew that. “People no longer support their act of coercion,” he said urging the police to arrest the real perpetrators.
Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman, superintendent of police of Lakshmipur, reiterated his force’s commitment to safeguard people’s lives and properties. “No one will be allowed to play with people’s lives in the name of movement. We are working around the clock to ensure law and order,” he said.
