MP shoots schoolboy [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

MP shoots schoolboy

Local October 03, 2015

A nine-year-old boy was shot in the legs below the knees allegedly by local ruling Awami League lawmaker Manjurul Islam Liton at Sundarganj in Gaibandha on Friday morning.
The victim, Shahadat Hossain Sourav, son of son of Saju Mia of Gopalcharan village at Sundarganj, was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Sundarganj police station officer-in-charge Zinnat Ali told New Age that they visited the lawmaker’s house on Friday evening to seize his firearm, but found the house locked.
‘We could not seize the firearms as the lawmaker along with other family members left the house and went into hiding,’ Zinnat said.
Rangpur Medical College Hospital paediatric surgery department duty doctor Shuvo Kumar Das told reporters that two bullets hit Shahadat in the left leg and one in the right leg.
Witnesses said that the incident took place on Bamandnga-Sundarganj road in BRAC intersection at about 6:00am, when Manjurul, also Sundarganj Upazila Awami League president, was heading to Sundarganj from his house at Bamandanga.
Victim’s paternal uncle Shajahan Miah, the family and local people said that Shahadat, a Class-IV student, and Shajahan were walking down the road in the morning as a regular practice at about 6:00am, when Manjurul overtook them in his car and asked Shajahan to get in the car.
As Shajahan did not get in the car, Manjurul, who was allegedly drunk, opened fires that hit Shahadat, the said.
Shahadat, talking to media in bed at the hospital, also said that declining to get in the car being asked by Manjurul, his uncle Shajahan tried to escape from the spot and then Manjurul shot at him.
Shahadat was rushed to Sundarganj upazila health complex from where he was sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as health condition deteriorated.
Local people held a rally and brought out procession in the area at about 11:00am protesting against the shooting and demanding justice.
The protesters alleged that the lawmaker used to harass locals and frequently fired bullets to create panic.
Gaibandha superintendent of police Ashraf Ali told New Age that he talked with Shahadat and could identify the man who shot him.
‘I have identified the shooter, but it is not the proper time to disclose the name for the sake of investigation,’ he claimed.
Gaibandha additional superintendent of police M Faruk Hossain said that they heard that the lawmaker for Gaibandha-1 parliamentary constituency shot at the boy, but the victim family were yet to file any complaint with the police.
Sundarganj police officer-in-charge Md Jinnat Ali said that the boy was shot at when he was exercising.
Acting Sundarganj upazila chairman Rezia Begume said that she heard about the incident and confirmed that the lawmaker was staying in his constituency for few days.
Manjurul could not be reached for comments as his mobile was found switched off.
Victim’s father Saju Miah said that he was not involved in any political party and he wanted justice.
Victim’s mother Selina Begum also demanded justice.
Earlier, Awami League lawmaker Pinu Khan’s son Bakhtiar Alam Roni, who was in a drunken stupor, opened fire from his car indiscriminately near Dilu Road at Maghbazar in the capital on early April 14 leaving two people — rickshaw-puller Abdul Hakim and daily Janakantha’s auto-rickshaw driver Yakub — injured.
Hakim succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 15 while Yakub died on April 23.
Hakim’s mother Monowara Begum filed a murder case with Ramna police station on April 15.