In Madaripur, BNP leader Anwar Bepari and his associates vandalized his house, molested his wife and daughter, looted lakhs of taka, all household items and cattle, forced to sign white stamps and threatened to send them to India.
The incident took place on January 7-8 (Sunday night and Monday) at Nayakandi village under ward no 3 of Kalkini municipality in Madaripur district.
According to the victim’s family, Ujjal Chandra Mandal, son of Jhantu Mandal, was the agent of the boat at Nayakandi polling center in ward no 3 of Kalkini municipality in the 12th parliamentary election on January 7. But before the election, former councillor Anwar Bepari had been threatening several minority families not to go to the polling centers. Without listening to him, the victims ensured their presence as boat agents on the election day. As the boat symbol lost to the independent candidate, they started attacking the houses of the boat supporters by looting and vandalizing their households recklessly.
In continuation of this, they attacked the house of Jhantu Mondal and vandalized his teenage daughter, wife and women and looted cattle. Under the leadership of Anwar Commissioner, Jhantu Mandal was beaten and left at home by breaking his hands and legs so that he could not go to the nearest medical center for treatment. Later the injured Jhantu Chandra Mandal became weak due to bleeding and the neighbors took him to the nearest medical center for treatment.
Ujjal Chandra Mandal, son of Jhantu Mondal, said that Anwar Bepari attacked their house by exploding bombs at night after the election on January 7. Alamgir Bepari, Jahangir Bepari, Rikta Begum, Riaz Bepari, Sabbir Bepari and 20 to 30 terrorists from late night to morning exploded 8/10 bombs in our house and carried out a long rampage with motorcycles.
The next day, on 08/01/24, a group of 100/150 people again hacked houses randomly from 10 am and looted cows, broke TVs, took away refrigerators, broke cupboards, brass dishes, gold and other valuables. While taking money, the attackers forced his family to sign stamps and threatened them to flee to India leaving everything as soon as possible. To grab the property, Anwar’s people threatened to kill everybody they would find at home. Even the rice pot was hacked and broken. At that time, Jhantu Chandra Mandal, who was working in the paddy field behind the house, chased him. Realizing the situation, Jhantu Mondal ran through the paddy field and went to Pannu Bepari’s house. The terrorists chased and grabbed him from there, beat him up, broke his hands and legs and vandalized the house. Then the unconscious Jhantu Mondal was brought in a van and was left him in the courtyard of the house.
Locals said that in the last municipal election, he tortured various people as a commissioner for the first time. During his tenure as commissioner, six GR cases were filed against him and his brother Gong De. On 30/05/2022, the same people entered the house of this Jhantu Mandal and attacked and looted.
As a result of the sentence of Case No. – GR-75, Kalkini Police Station of 2022, the Madaripur court sentenced Riaz and Sabbir to 1 year and 5 months on 10/12/2023. Shibai Mondal was the only neutral witness in the case. They hit him with a hammer and stabbed him with a dagger to testify. A case was re-filed in that case, which is still ongoing. Case No- GR-128/23, Kalkini Police Station. A few days ago, he appealed with a bribe and came out on bail.
Locals said that all the well-wishing Hindu families, including the Jhantu Mondal’s family, always put their support for the symbol of boat in the election. Ujjal Mondal, son of Jhantu Mondal, was the agent of the boat at Nayakandi Primary Center. In that center, Boat got the most 708 votes in the municipality and Eagle got 820 votes. The Anwar commissioner was then a supporter of the independent candidate. This time he fulfilled the old resentment on the pretext of the losing of boat in the election and by looting Ujjwal’s house, hitting the mother and sister, threatening to take away the sister, crippling the father. Neighbors said that if they found Ujjal Mondal, they would have slaughtered him that day.
Jhantu Mondal’s wife Urmila Mondal said the victim’s family has not received any administrative and legal help in this regard so far. “On the morning of January 8, they first beat me and my 14-year-old daughter. When Anwar’s wife Rikta Begum ordered the youths to pick up my daughter, I ran away to save my daughter. Then they chased my husband towards the field. They won’t let us live. Anwar Bepari is now the owner of huge property by killing all the Hindus around us and grabbing all their properties. My relatives, neighbors and neighbours cannot come to our house out of fear. These few days I am alone at home. Me life is quite uncertain right now and I doubt I will be attacked any time. I have not been able to reach my injured husband yet. I am a single woman at home now risking my life. The police, the administration, all bought by Anwar. Will we get a trial?