Stolen cow traced by hoofprints, angry villagers torch ‘gang leader’s’ home in Gournadi; 3 detained
Photo: Collected
Angry locals in Barishal’s Gournadi have set fire to the house and cowshed of a man suspected of being the ringleader of an organised cattle theft gang. The man and two of his associates were detained and handed over to police.
The incident took place on Thursday morning in Shahjira village of the upazila’s Sarikal union. The three detained are Aziz Mira, 65, of Shahjira village, his brother-in-law’s son Sakil Hossain, and Nayan Sikder of the Agarpur area of Babuganj upazila.
Local resident Adam Ali Sikder said that with cattle thefts on the rise in the area, he had kept watch until 3am after Wednesday night. He then went home and fell asleep. A little later he went to his cowshed and found his cow missing. As it had rained, the cow’s hoofprints were clearly visible; following them, he found the stolen cow in Aziz Mira’s cowshed. Locals then surrounded Aziz Mira and police were informed.
Adam Ali further said that, in front of the police, the rope and hide of a cow stolen from Nasir Khan of the same village were recovered from behind Aziz Mira’s cowshed. Angry people then beat Aziz Mira. Later, his brother-in-law’s son Sakil and Nayan were also detained on suspicion of being his associates.
Locals said an altercation broke out with police when the angry crowd tried to snatch the three detainees from them. Additional police from Gournadi Model Police Station, Barishal Lines and the Agarpur investigation centre then went to the scene and rescued the three. Around 10am, the angry crowd set fire to Aziz Mira’s house and cowshed. Locals claim this caused damage worth around Tk 10 lakh.
Gournadi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tariq Hasan Russell said Aziz Mira is the ringleader of an organised cattle theft gang. Cows stolen from various places were brought to his cowshed and slaughtered, then sold in markets in Gournadi and surrounding areas. Cow hides were also recovered from a pit behind the cowshed.
The OC said a case has been filed naming four people, including the three detained, and accusing four more unnamed persons. The three have been shown arrested in the case and sent to jail through the court.
Sources
Original report: Bangladesh Pratidin
