The sources also said there were no proof of Sumon's involvement in criminal activities and his addresses mentioned in the charge-sheets of two cases were full of discrepancies that raise questions about the Rab allegation against him.

A Rab press release dubbed Sumon as notorious "Goailya Sumon" saying he was accused of murdering one Fazlu at Bhuiyanpara in Khilgaon and slaughtering one Belait near Goran Shahi Masjid in the same area.

But the officer-in-charge (OC) of Khilgaon Police Station told The Daily Star that there was no case against Sumon in the police station.

Sabujbagh police said "Goailya Sumon" is accused in three cases including one for murder. The cases are 62/6/96 (murder), 20/1/97 (rape) and 21/1/97 (theft).

But according to sources the killed Jubo League leader and the Rab-claimed "Goailya Sumon" were not the same person. Sumon was acting joint convenor of Awami League-backed Jubo League's ward no 25 committee.

"SHOOTOUT" STORY
The Rab said Sumon was killed in a shootout on Road No 4 in Block F of Bansree, Rampura at about 3:30am yesterday. The gunfight occurred when a gang of criminals opened fire at a patrol team of Rab in the area.

The Rab press release said the Rab members after the shootout found the body of Sumon lying on the spot. Later Khilgaon police identified him as "Goailya Sumon," a notorious criminal of Goran area, it claimed.

However, witnesses said some plainclothes Rab men had picked up Sumon and two others from the office of a cable operator in Goran where he worked as a cashier.

They said a man first entered the office of Lorel International, the cable operator, in East Goran, at about 8:30pm on Monday. A few others followed him and identified themselves as Rab members.

"One of them loaded his pistol and pointed it to Sumon's abdomen. Another man blindfolded Sumon, Hanif and Bidyut. Then they left the place in a yellow taxicab," a shopkeeper in the area said, seeking anonymity. Hanif and Bidyut are the linesmen (mechanics) of the cable operator.

"About 50 people witnessed the incident. The plainclothes Rab men later put on their uniform before pushing the three youths into the cab," he said.

Asked about the alleged criminal activities, most locals said Sumon was polite and modest and he was not involved in crimes.

FATHER'S STATEMENT
Sumon's father Abdul Hakim said he and his wife Amela Khatun rushed to Khilgaon Police Station after they heard that Sumon was arrested. As the duty officer confirmed that Khilgaon police had not arrested him, they went to the Detective Branch (DB) office on Mintoo Road, but did not find their son there.

"At about 2:30am we went to the Rab-3 office at Tikatuli and found Sumon sitting in a Rab jeep. Possibly, they were taking him out of the office," Hakim said.

"We tried to meet Sumon, but the Rab members drove us out when we identified ourselves as Sumon's parents," he said. Sumon's mother was found shell-shocked, sitting on a chair, when The Daily Star correspondents visited their house.

Hakim said at about 5:00am yesterday he went to Khilgaon Police Station and found Sumon's body lying in a police van with blood oozing from his abdomen.

Sumon's father said he would file a case against Rab for killing his only son.

DISCREPANCIES IN SUMON'S IDENTITY, ADDRESS
Sabujbagh police said "Sumon" is accused in three cases, one each for murder, rape and theft in 1996 and 1997. But there is no accused named "Sumon" in the charge-sheet of the 1996 murder case.

In the charge-sheets of the rape and theft cases, police however accused Sumon mentioning his father's name as "Hakim." But both the permanent and present addresses mentioned in the charge-sheets appeared to be wrong.

His local address was mentioned as 435, South Goran and permanent address as Sataimura in Araihazar upazila in Narayanganj. His age was not mentioned.

However, Jubo League leader Sumon's father said his permanent address is village Faridabad in Banchharampur upazila in Brahmanbaria district.

Hakim, a furniture trader, said they never resided in 435, South Goran. Sumon was born at their own house at 259/1, East Goran where they reside, he added. Hakim also said he had built the house soon after the Liberation War.

On the other hand, one Joynal Abedin has been living at 435, South Goran since 1985. "Before I came here, a rickshaw-puller named Hakim lived in this plot (No 435). I knew he had a son who was a driver and married," Joynal said.

One Noorjahan filed a rape case against "Sumon of 435, South Goran" in January 1997. At that time Jubo League leader Sumon was only 13 years and seven months old as his father yesterday said Sumon was 22.

Asked, the second officer of Sabujbagh Police Station said they could not arrest Sumon, the accused in the charge-sheets, as he was absconding. But locals said Jubo League leader Sumon always lived with his parents in Goran.