Outlaws realise toll from farmers, loot paddy

They are active in Tarash, Raiganj and Ullapara upazilas of Sirajganj and in at least 70 villages in Singra upazila of Natore district. The villages include Boroichora, Paril, Deoghar, Harisona, Kundason, Innipara, Deora-Shohara, Shaarol, Shohara, Jordighi, Jamtoil, Guchchhogram, Shyampur, Tagra, Usakol and Uttorpaikora.

Most of the victims are well off farmers but they do not dare report to police fearing reprisal, a number of them told this correspondent during a recent visit to the areas.

They collected Tk 2 lakh from Union Parishad member Brojendro Nath in Deora village, Tk 1 lakh from Ayaz Uddin of Innipara and Tk 1.5 lakh from Ramcharan of Boroichora village, it was gathered. The outlaws looted fishes from at least 25 ponds and paddy from several lands in the area as farmers declined to pay.

At Boroitola village, they looted paddy from 20 bigha lands of Subol Chandra though he paid them Tk 1.5 lakh.

Saiful Islam of Golta village, a peon at local sub-registry office, said the outlaws took away paddy from his 15 bigha lands as he could not pay them Tk 1 lakh.

The farmers said they send messages earlier giving deadline. After expiry of the deadline, they come at night in gangs with firearms and loot paddy from fields.

The outlaws also pasted posters and distributed leaflets in different areas claiming responsibility for the attack on Bamihal police outpost in Natore on December 28 last year, in which three constables were killed and 10 arms were looted.

The posters and leaflets said the attack was in retaliation to drives against them by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and police.

Local people said PBCP outlaws have regrouped in the areas to work for certain candidates in the coming election.

Talking to this correspondent, Natore Police Superintendent Mohammad Abdul Malek did not rule out the possibility of outlaws being sheltered by political parties for use in election.