An arrested leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir told the police that they were aided by rival Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in the last week’s attack on Touhid Al Hossain Tuhin.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police arrested Abdullah Al Masum, Assistant Publicity Secretary of Rajshahi City unit Islami Chhatra Shibir, from Upasahar area of the city Saturday night in connection with the attack on Tuhin, BCL’s Rajshahi University unit general secretary. The attackers cut the tendons of Tuhin’s arms and legs.
At a police press conference yesterday, Masum disclosed that he was involved in the planning of the attack on Rajshahi University Chhatra League General Secretary Touhid Al Hossain Tuhin last week.
Masum disclosed that the operation against Tuhin was conducted by a rival group of Chhatra League and Shibir only acted as a catalyst. Sitting with the dissenting leaders of Chhatra League, Shibir leaders chalked out a plan to attack Tuhin.
Masum said Chhatra League leaders who were with Tuhin during the attack were well informed about the incident. They revealed Tuhin’s location to Shibir before the attack on condition that none of them will be harmed and will be given a safe exit from campus.
RMP Commissioner Moniruzzaman told journalists that Masum was behind all major incidents of recent attacks on police and Chhatra League leaders.
“He himself was involved with at least 60 bomb attacks in various places of the city during hartal and clashes with police and Chhatra League,” he said.
Masum said he was not directly involved in attacking Tuhin but as a leader of Shibir, he knew about the plot of attacking Tuhin.
The attackers cut the tendons of Tuhin’s arms and legs. Masum refused to disclose the identities of the attackers.
Police said Masum was the mastermind behind all major attacks conducted by Shibir against police and the Chhatra League leaders in the recent times.
Masum further disclosed that Shibir members had established close ties with Rajshahi University’s Chhatra League leaders and activists, especially those who failed to get any posts in the newly formed committee of the unit.
Masum also disclosed that Shibir activists earlier attacked Chhatra League Vice President Takim in the same manner and other leaders accompanying him at that time were also collaborating in the attack.
When asked why Shibir had carried out these attacks, Masum said on September 11, 2012 Shibir leaders and activists were driven out of the campus by police and Chhatra League. Takim and Tuhin brandished firearms openly in the drive.
Since that drive, Shibir members were planning to attack Takim and Tuhin and after getting green signal from the centre, they attacked.
