Shibir leader held in Pabna

Police detained an Islami Chhatra Shibir leader in connection with the killing of Nityaranjan Pande, volunteer of a Hindu Ashram, early yesterday.

The detained, Md Ariful Islam, 23, son of Abdus Sattar of Char Ghoshpur village, is undergoing treatment at Pabna General Hospital. He is the general secretary of Pabna district west unit of Shibir, student front of Jamaat-e-Islami.

A team of BNP central leaders have meanwhile visited Anukul Chandra Shatshangha Ashramon behalf of the party chief, reports Our Correspondent from Pabna.

Nityaranjan, 60, was hacked to death around 5:00am on Friday when he was taking his regular morning walk about half a kilometre away from the ashram, the latest in a spate of such killings in the country.

Acting on a tip off, Pabna Sadar police detained the Shibir leader from a house in Bazitpur area, said Abdullah Al Hasan, officer-in-charge of Sadar police.

When Arifiul was being taken to the police station, the vehicle carrying him careered into a roadside ditch, leaving him injured.

“We have got a link between Ariful and the murder in our investigation,” the OC said but did not elaborate on the matter.

BNP LEADERS VISIT ASHRAM

Six central leaders of BNP led by former minister Nitai Chandra Roy visited the ashram yesterday morning and held talks with the devotees.

In a press briefing, BNP demanded a proper investigation into the incident.

“The killings of minority people raise concern for their security. It should stop. The government should also stop the blame game and investigate all the killings properly.” Nitai Roy told reporters.

Such killings are going on as a result of local and foreign “conspiracy”. The government should trace the real culprits and bring them to book, he added.

ANOTHER ARRESTED IN GOMEZ MURDER CASE

Police arrested another tenant in connection with the murder of Christian trader Sunil Gomez, reports Our Correspondent from Natore

Abdul Hai, officer-in-charge of Detective Branch and also the investigation officer in the case, said they arrested Monowara Begum alias Moni, 28, in Badda area of Dhaka on Saturday night.

Moni was sent to a Natore court yesterday afternoon, said the OC, adding that they prayed to the court seeking her remand for five days.

The Christians in Baraigram upazila of Natore yesterday staged demonstrations protesting against the killing of grocer Sunil Gomez.

More than 2,000 Christians brought out a procession from Bonpara Christian Palli around 10:30am and marched to the bypass intersection at Bonpara where they formed a human chain.

During the demonstration they also blockaded the Bonpara road, halting traffic movement on the Dhaka-Natore and Natore-Pabna highways.

Earlier on June 5, unknown assailants hacked 60-year-old Sunil to death at his shop at Bonpara Christian Palli.

Law enforcers arrested Sabujat from his rented house around 5:00pm the same day suspecting his involvement in the murder.

Hours after Sunil's death, global terror outfit Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the killing, according to SITE Intelligence Group that monitors terrorist activities.