The controversial ruling party lawmaker from Gaibandha’s Sundarganj remained traceless until last night since he shot an eight-year-old boy in his area on Friday morning allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Local police and members of Rapid Action Battalion went to the Bamondanga residence of Manjurul Islam Liton MP several times.
“We did not see anyone there. I have heard that he is now staying in Dhaka. He cannot be communicated since his phone is found switched off,” Sundarganj OC Jinnat Ali said.
Relatives and neighbours also refrained from disclosing any information about the lawmaker’s whereabouts to the reporters.
UNO Abdul Hye Milton also said that they were unaware of the whereabouts of the MP.
Saju Mia, father of injured Shahadat Hossain Sourov, filed an attempted murder case with Sundarganj police around 9:30pm yesterday accusing MP Liton of injuring his son.
Liton is also the president of Sundarganj unit Awami League.
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Meanwhile, two personal arms of the MP were surrendered before the Sundarganj police yesterday evening upon directives of the district police authorities.
The MP’s brother-in-law handed over a pistol, a shotgun and bullets to the police, sources said.
Superintendent of Police Md Ashraful Alam said that MP Liton had been using the arms in different illegal and unethical acts.
“He created panic among the people by brandishing the arms and opening fire at people on several occasions in the past. We received several complaints on the matter. Moreover, he injured a boy named Sourov on Friday.
“The process of withdrawing licence of the arms began following the latest incident,” he told reporters adding that they would file a report on the matter to the deputy commissioner.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Abdus Samad said that he had no idea about the process initiated by the district SP. “We will certainly take a decision on revoking his licences once we get the police report,” Samad said.
Locals enraged over the incident demonstrated at Sundarganj on Friday demanding arrest and punishment of the lawmaker. They, however, did not observe any programme yesterday.
Sundarganj Municipality Mayor Md Abdullah Al Mamun, upazila Awami League Joint General Secretary Golam Mostafa Babul and Organising Secretary Sajedul Islam, and Shechchhasebok League President Golam Kabir Mukul condemned the incident and demanded proper investigation.
UNO Milton said that to maintain law and order and avoid untoward incidents, the locals were asked to keep the shops shut after 10pm.
‘Sourov out of danger’
Doctors at Rangpur Medical College Hospital yesterday said that Sourov was out of danger.
“The boy lost a lot of blood but he is now safe. We are yet to confirm whether he will be able to walk properly,” duty doctor at the hospital’s paediatric surgery unit Shuvo Kumar Das said.
Hospital Director Dr ASM Barkatullah said that Sourov had been kept under observation.
But lying on the bed at ward 18 the boy was repeatedly asking his mother whether he would be able to walk or go to school. He could not figure it out why the MP had opened fire at him. “I did nothing wrong,” he cried.
Sourov is a class IV student of Gopalcharan Primary School in the area.
According to witnesses and police, MP Liton was going to his Bamondanga residence from Sundarganj on his car around 6am. On the way, he asked a woman, who was jogging on the street near Gopalcharan-Brac intersection, to get on his car but she ran away out of fear.
Then the MP asked Sourov’s uncle to get on his car. But he started running too. At that time, the MP opened fire from his arms at the man injuring Sourov, and left the scene.
Locals first took him to Sundarganj Upazila Health Complex. Later he was shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. But on the way to Rangpur, the ambulance carrying Sourov was obstructed by the supporters of the MP. Later the OC and the UNO intervened.
Sourov’s father Saju Mia, a hawker by profession, alleged that the MP’s men had been threatening him with dire consequences.
Mother of the victim Selina Begum said: “Did I vote him to shoot my son? Why did he shoot Sourov? It does not matter whether he is a lawmaker or not, I want him to be brought to the book.”
