18 arrested for inciting violence over Mamunul's arrest

News Desk: Nine accused have been placed on a two-day remand each over the attack on Chhatak police station

Police have arrested 18 people for inciting violence over the arrest of Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque in Sunamganj and Sylhet.

In Sunamganj’s Chhatak Upazila, 10 people were arrested for throwing brickbats at police and their vehicles during a protest rally against the arrest of Mamunul Haque.

They were arrested from Rajapur village under the Kalaruka union of the Upazila on Tuesday morning.

The arrestees are -- Lutfur Rahman, Saleh Ahmed, Neshar Uddin, Helal Uddin, Sadiqur Rahman Talukder, Kamal Uddin, Abdur Rahman, Ashiur Rahman, Ebadur Rahman, and Talha Ahmed. They are all residents of Rajapur village.

Following the news of the arrest of Mamunul Haque, his supporters staged a protest procession in the Rajapur area on Sunday evening.

On information, police reached the spot and the protesters threw brickbats at them and their vehicles.

Later on Sunday night, Sub Inspector Atiqul Alam Khandaker of Chhatak police station filed a case under the Special Powers Act against 14 named and 150 more unnamed accused.

After the case was filed, police raided Rajapur village and arrested the 10 accused, said Sheikh Nazim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Chhatak police station.

In Sylhet’s Zakiganj Upazila, eight people have been arrested for inciting anarchy and violence among the masses over the arrest of Mamunul Haque.

The arrestees are -- Sahab Uddin, 30, Zakaria, 32, Manzur Ahmed, 48, Shah Mortuza Ali Raju, 40, Zillur Rahman, 50, Humayun Azad, 45, Nurul Haque Khan, 47, and Kamil Ahmed, 22.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Zakiganj police station Abul Qasim confirmed the matter, reports UNB.

He said: "The arrests were made on Monday night following a case filed against 17 named and several unnamed accused under the Special Powers Act."

"Operations are currently underway to identify and arrest the others involved,” he added.

According to police and local sources, a group of people, mainly activists and leaders of Hefazat, BNP, and Jamaat brought out a procession protesting Mamunul’s arrest in the Shahgali area of Zakiganj around 10 pm on Monday.

Earlier on April 18, Mamunul Haque was arrested from a madrasa in Dhaka's Mohammadpur area.

He was arrested in connection with a vandalism case filed against him with Mohammadpur police station.

The much controversial Hefazat leader was produced before the court the following day where the court placed him on a seven-day remand.

9 placed on remand

Meanwhile, nine accused have been placed on a two-day remand each for assaulting police and vandalizing Chhatak police station after Mamunul Haque was detained with a woman at a resort in Sonargaon of Narayanganj on April 4.

The accused in remand are -- Joynal Abedin, 28, Rajan Ahmed, 26, Ekram Hossain, 22, Samsuddin 23, Sumon Ahmed, 20, Ali Hossain, 28, Mostafizur Rahman Fahim, 19, and Johnny Ahmed, 19, and Abul Hossain, 30. 

Officer-in-Charge of Chhatak police station Sheikh Nazim Uddin confirmed the matter.