A case was filed against local residents for handing over oil thieves, one of the accused was also in human chain

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A case has been filed against the residents of Narail Sadar upazila for protesting the theft of oil. In protest of the case, local residents made a human chain in the Hatiara market of Sheikhhati Union of the upazila on Friday afternoon. One accused in the theft case was also present.

People participating in the human chain alleged that oil was stolen from an excavator engaged in re-excavating a canal in Hatiara area on the night of March 26. Locals Pritam Pal, Asim Biswas and Vikas Biswas were alleged to be involved in the incident. Two days later on the afternoon of March 28, the owner of the excavator with the help of local residents arrested them from Hatiara market.

It is said that some of the excited crowd beat them. But Asim Biswas escaped from there. Later, the remaining two were handed over to the local police camp, but they were released from there.

Then on April 1, his wife Nipa Biswas filed a case at the Sadar police station as the plaintiff, accusing Asim Biswas of beating him. In the case, 11 people were named and 5-6 others were named as unknown accused. However, the investigating officer of the case, Sheikhhati Police Outpost Deputy Inspector Md. Rafiqul Islam refused to comment on the matter to the media.

The human chainers claim that none of the accused in the case were involved in the beating of Asim Biswas. The case has been filed with the intention of harassing the accused persons for protesting the theft and helping to arrest them. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the case.

Sukanta Goswami, the accused in the case and a teacher of a local school, said that thefts had been happening in the area for a long time, and there was anger among the people. After the arrest of the thieves, the excited mob beat them up, but many people were present there. But those who have been accused are not involved in the beating. A case has been filed against them for helping to catch thieves.

Mosharraf Hossain, the owner of the excavator, said that although the oil of his machine was stolen, he did not get justice. Rather, those who have cooperated have been prosecuted. He demanded fair investigation and trial of the incident.

Pritam Pal, accused in the theft case, was also present in the human chain. He claimed that he was involved in the incident without realizing it. According to him, Asim and Vikas took him to the spot and gave him some oil, telling him to buy it. After realizing the matter, he revealed the names of the two to others. Because of this anger, his name has also been included in the case.

However, Asim Biswas denied the allegations of theft. He said, “I don’t know anything about it (theft). I hate thieves. If they could prove me a thief, I wouldn’t be in this country. Killed me deliberately out of enmity. Those who killed, have been accused.