Tuesday, November 5, 2024

They all speak of Limon’s innocence

Shot into Disability by Rab
They all speak of Limon’s innocence
The High Court order to grant Limon six months’ bail and ensure his proper treatment has brought relief not only to Limon’s family but also to his villagers and well-wishers. Meanwhile, The Daily Star’s special correspondent Morshed Ali Khan visited Limon’s village in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi district and talked to around 150 people–farmers, traders, teachers, leaders of political parties (both Awami League and BNP) and even children. They all said Limon was innocent.
At around 4:00pm on March 23, Tokacher Jamaddar, a septuagenarian farmer of Jamaddar Hatkhola in Chhaturia village of Jhalakathi district, had just finished his day’s work when two Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel arrived at his doorstep. The armed Rab men wanted Tokacher to identify a young man lying by the river Sandhya with a bullet wound. Tokacher followed the men to the spot, some 50 metres from his house, and had a proper look at the motionless youth clad in blood.
“What have you done?” Tokacher cried out at half a dozen Rab men present there. “He is Limon, our Tofazzal’s son and a brilliant student of Kathalia college. He has nothing to do with any misdeed.”
Tokacher and his wife Zaida Begum narrated how the Rab personnel reacted when they learnt that they had just shot an innocent boy while looking for one of the most wanted criminal of the area Murshed Jamaddar and his associates. (See the side story)
“When I told them that Limon is innocent, there was a panic among the Rab personnel,” said Tokacher, “One of them told me it was an accident. As the sun was setting they called a local boatman to send wounded Limon away with some of the officers.”
Zaida Begum said Limon was a promising child who worked hard to pay for his studies and support his family. “He tutored children of the area and toiled in the fields whenever he was free,” she said, adding, “For any parents he is an ideal child.”
On the day, Limon was home preparing for his upcoming final exams. Towards the afternoon his mother told him to get the family calf which went astray as high tide flooded the grazing field next to their house. Limon found the calf at a higher point near a small culvert just across the field. Accompanying him was his neighbour 12-year-old Abir. Having found the calf Limon casually sat on the railing of the culvert.
Suddenly, two Rab men appeared on the spot on a motorbike and grabbed Limon by his shirt. They separated Abir and dragged Limon some 15 metres behind banana trees. By then several more Rab personnel arrived on motorbikes.
“One of the Rab men pointed his pistol at Limon’s head wanting to know the whereabouts of Murshed Jamaddar when terrified Limon told him that he was only a student,” said Limon’s mother, who alerted by the children of the area rushed across the field for her son. “The Rab officer did not ask any other question. He shot Limon point-blank at just above his left knee,” she said.
Limon’s uncle Mohazzel Hossain, a matchmaker by profession, also rushed to the spot as by then there was a rumour that Limon was shot dead. As he approached the remaining Rab officers and identified himself as Limon’s uncle, they severely beat him in front of villagers. Mohazzel sustained eight fractures in his left leg from the beating.
The March 23 incident at an isolated place only five minutes’ walk from Limon’s home not only left the boy crippled for life but also shattered the dreams of the family aspiring to climb the ladder of success from abject poverty.
Limon’s mother Henora Begum, father Tofazzal Hossain struggled hard to educate their two sons Hemayet Hossain Sumon, a BA final year student, Limon Hossain, a HSC student of Accounting Trade and Lucky Akhter, a BA student.
While every person in the area, including officials of Rajapur Police Station knew about Limon’s innocence, Rab was not sitting idle. Its public relations wing at the time claimed that Limon was with a group of most wanted criminals, including Murshed Jamaddar. As the elite force raided the area on a tip off, the criminals opened fire. Since Limon was with the criminals, he received the bullet in a cross fire, Rab said.
Rab Deputy Assistant Director Corporal Majharul Islam, Nayek Moktadir Hossain, Nayek Prahalad Chandra, Soldier Kartik Kumar Biswas and Costable Md Abdul Aziz participated in the operation on March 23. They were hell-bent to save their skin and prove Limon’s association with a notorious gang that has been successfully eluding the elite force for years.
Two cases were filed by Rab with Rajapur Police Station accusing Limon of obstructing on-duty law enforcers and possessing firearms. As soon as Limon’s story came to light, Rab embarked on recruiting witnesses in the area who would testify against Limon. Capitalising on the situation, petty criminals as well as drug addicts came forward to denounce Limon. With one leg amputated, 16-year-old Limon is now facing the wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, after days of dilly-dally refusal to accept any case from Limon’s mother against the Rab men, Rajapur police eventually recorded a case after it was directed by a court of justice. In the case, Limon’s mother accused the six Rab personnel of maiming her son.
On Tuesday, Rajapur police got Limon released from Dhaka Pangu hospital and produced him before a senior judicial magistrate in Jhalakathi, 220 kilometers south of the capital. The Magistrate sent Limon to jail asking authorities to organise his treatment there. He was later shifted to Barisal Medical College Hospital prison cell.
While Limon was being framed in false cases, a top official of the Rab intelligence arrived at the village on April 12 to investigate the matter. According to Limon’s mother and villagers, the official of the enquiry team was so moved by the findings that he offered Limon’s mother Tk 5000 as a gesture of goodwill.
“I did not want to accept the money but the Rab official insisted in front of the villagers,” said Henora Begum.
Even the Director General of Rab Mokhlesur Rahman on April 11 said Limon Hossain is the victim of a ‘shootout’ between Rab and criminals. “Limon is a young boy, not a notorious criminal but an accused in a criminal case. He just became the victim of the incident,” he said.
The criminal case the Rab DG mentioned was filed following a family feud over land, in which almost all of Limon’s family members were accused.
The top level Rab intelligence officer was not alone to sympathise with Limon. The entire staff and students of Limon’s college, farmers, villagers, senior citizens, children, traders, leaders of the local government (both Awami League and BNP), and even beggars came forward to help Limon obtain treatment. Students and villagers formed human chains to protest maiming of Limon.
Abu Shahan, about 70 years of age and former Chairman of the area for 20 years, said, “We are happy to see Rab doing an excellent job but it was a terrible mistake to maim this young man who we all know as a polite and meritorious student coming from an extremely poor family.”
Md Nashir Uddin Mahmud, principal of Limon’s college told The Daily Star that Limon was an ideal student loved by all the staff. “His attendance in the college was over 90 percent and his class performance was excellent. We never heard of any report of his involvement with any untoward incident. I am deeply shocked for what he went through,” said Mahmud.
Atiqur Rahman, training Instructor of the college, Mrinal Kanti Mandal, Shekhor Chandra Halder, Mobarak Ali, teachers of the school and college sections, unanimously expressed their sadness at the incident.
The most interesting part of Limon case was that Rajapur police produced charge sheet against Limon and seven absconding others including Murshed Jamaddar for possessing firearms and obstructing law enforcers.
While the police officers refused to comment on Limon’s case on record, unofficially they admitted Limon’s innocence. Yet Limon has been put through the grinding process of the state mechanisms.
Limon’s sister Lucky Akhter said the family had never known luxury. The small house they live in the village is rickety and poorly furnished. Limon’s study area included a broken shelf, a wobbly chair and table at the corner of an earthen veranda.
“We thought we would be able to start working soon as we finish our studies and bring some joy to the family,” said Lucky, “ But this incident has shattered our dreams.”
A High Court bench yesterday following a bail petition filed by Ain O Salish Kendra, a human rights organisation, granted bail for six months to Limon. The court also directed the government to arrange his treatment at one of the country’s best hospitals as per Limon’s choice. It also asked the government to bear all costs for the treatment.

 

Courtesy of The Daily Star

Related News

Ijtema scheduled for two phases from January 31 to February 9: home adviser

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bishwa Ijtema is set to take place in two phases from January 31 to February 9 next year, as announced today by Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. The first phase will be held from January 31 to February 2, with the second phase from February 7 to ... Read more

Bangladesh sent 9.3 lakh workers abroad since Jan

BSS With sincere efforts by different stakeholders, especially the government, Bangladesh sent abroad 9.3 lakh workers with jobs from January to 2 November this year. “The trend of overseas employment is satisfactory so far and we are expecting to send more remittance senders with jobs this year,” Director of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training ... Read more

Policymakers unaware of people’s struggles as they don’t rely on public transport, says Road Safety Foundation

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Those responsible for public transport policymaking in the country do not use public transport in the capital, so they do not understand the sufferings people endure, Road Safety Foundation (RSF) Chairman AI Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said today (2 November). The chairman of the Road Safety Foundation (RSF), AI Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, ... Read more

Job aspirants can now try 4 times for BCS exam

News Desk : dhakamirror.com From now a job seekers will be able to sit for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations up to a maximum of four times. This decision was taken at a meeting of the advisory council chaired by chief adviser Dr Mohammad Yunus at his office on Thursday, said a press release from ... Read more

Load-shedding surpasses 1,500MW as Adani reduces generation

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Load shedding exceeded 1,500MW on Friday after yet another power producer, the Adani power limited, cut its production due to non-payment of bills. Grappling with a dollar crisis for more than two years, Bangladesh’s dues to power plants jumped to over Tk 43,000 crore in July. Adani’s outstanding bill stood at ... Read more

DU-affiliated 7-college students block Science Laboratory for 2nd consecutive day

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Students of seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University (DU) have blocked the Science Lab intersection in the capital on Wednesday for the second consecutive day to press home their demand for a separate autonomous university. They blocked the crossing at about 11:00am halting vehicular movement. Students of the seven colleges — ... Read more

Madrasa student drowns in Cox’s Bazar

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A madrasa student drowned near the beach in Cox’s Bazar around 12:30pm today (26 October). The incident happened at Sugandha Point, confirmed Executive Magistrate of Tourism Division of Cox’s Bazar district administration Md Tanvir Hossain. The deceased has been identified as Mahmudur Rahman, son of Didarul Alam from Banglabazar area under ... Read more

Cyclone Dana turns into land depression

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Cyclone “Dana” over North Odisha and adjoining area moved and weakened North-Northwestwards and now lies over the same area as a land depression. It is likely to move West-Northwestwards further and weaken gradually and will become insignificant, said a Met office bulletin on Saturday, reports UNB. “Light to moderate rain or ... Read more

Maximum entry age for public jobs to be 32

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has approved raising the maximum age for applying for public service jobs to 32 years. This decision was made at a meeting of the interim government’s advisory council, said a press release issued by the Cabinet Division today. The current age threshold is 30, and 32 for children of ... Read more

Cyclone Dana heads towards India

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Skies remained overcast all over Bangladesh amidst light to heavy rains accompanied by gusts as the cyclonic storm Dana barreled down the Bay of Bengal towards the Indian coast between Odisha and West Bengal on Wednesday. Forecasters said that Bangladesh has little to worry about as the cyclone was moving away ... Read more

Gold price crosses Tk 1.4 lakh per bhori

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (Bajus) today (19 October) increased the price of gold by Tk2,613 per bhori, followed by a price hike in the local bullion market. According to a Bajus statement, 22-carat gold will now cost Tk1,40,061 per bhori (11.664 grams). The new rate will be effective from tomorrow (20 ... Read more

Low pressure likely to form in Bay on Tuesday: BMD

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A low pressure is likely to form over the central Bay of Bengal around Tuesday, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said today. In its latest weather bulletin, BMD said rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions and ... Read more

Interim govt approves 11-day Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha holidays, 2-day for Durga Puja

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The interim government today extended the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays to five days, Eid-ul-Azha holidays to six days and Sharadiya Durga Puja holidays to two days for 2025, according to the Chief Adviser’s Office. Currently, there are three-day public holidays for each Eid and one day for Durga Puja. The list of public ... Read more

Two entire families lost to a road accident in Pirojpur

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least eight people from two families, including four children, died after a private car plunged into a roadside canal in Pirojpur early today. The deceased are Shawon, 32, his wife Amina, 25, their two children Sahadat, 7, and Abdullah, 3, from Bhaijhora village of Pirojpur’s Nazirpur upazila and Motaleb Sheikh, ... Read more

Italian embassy to resolve 20,000 visa applications by December: Foreign adviser

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said that the Italian Embassy in Dhaka will clear 20,000 visa applications by December as many visa applications had been pending for a long time. “Twenty thousand visa cases have been cleared from Rome. [However] Progress in issuing those visas is very slow. ... Read more

Prof Mobasser Monem appointed as new PSC Chairman

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has appointed Dr Mobasser Monem, a Professor of Governance and Public Management at the University of Dhaka, as the new Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC). Along with Professor Monem, four others have been appointed as members of the BPSC. The four members are– Md Suzayet Ullah, ... Read more

Govt urges IOM to evacuate Bangladeshis

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka has requested the International Organisation for Migration to arrange chartered flights to bring back Bangladeshis willing to leave Lebanon amid airstrikes by Israel on the West Asian country. ‘We have requested the IOM to arrange flights to evacuate Bangladeshis willing to leave Lebanon. But Beirut’s airport is currently unsafe for ... Read more

Flood puts hundreds at risk of starvation

Emran Hossain The ongoing flash flooding puts hundreds of farmer families at immediate risk of starvation in Sherpur district, washing away the rice they stored from the previous harvest and also destroying the standing paddy fields. The divisional office of the Department of Agricultural Extension estimated that the flood affected 97,000 hectares of standing aman ... Read more

Price hikes strain people

Moinul Haque The soaring prices of essential commodities, including rice, vegetables, eggs and broiler chicken, put increasing pressure on the low-income people, pushing them further to the wall. Market analysts have expressed concerns over the unusual spiralling of prices of the essentials, criticising the interim government for its failure to take timely action to protect ... Read more

Four days Durga Puja holiday starting from Thursday

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh’s interim government has announced an additional public holiday on Thursday, October 10, for Durga Puja, the largest religious celebration of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, says a press release. During a press conference held on Wednesday at the Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, Mahfuj Alam, special assistant to chief adviser, made ... Read more