How Chhatra League men aided in Iqbal’s arrest
Masud Alam, Comilla
- Published at 06:32 pm October 22nd, 2021
A photo shows Iqbal Hossain with the men who aided in his arrest in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday night Collected
They confirmed Iqbal’s identity by sending his photos to Noakhali police and kept him back until police arrived without arousing his suspicions
Three friends, who are also members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, aided police in the arrest of Iqbal Hossain, the man responsible for keeping a Quran at a Comilla puja venue that triggered attacks on Hindus.
The trio identified as Anik Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Mishu, and Saiful Islam Saif are local Chhatra League activists, confirmed Asaduzzaman Arman, president of Noakhali unit Chhatra League.
Anik Rahman and Mehedi Hasan Mishu, both of whom are masters’ students at Chowmuhani Government SA College, said along with their friends they had gone to visit the Cox’s Bazar sea beach for a vacation.
Mishu said they first saw Iqbal at Dariyanagar and later made his acquaintance at Sugandha Beach on Thursday night.
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After the man identified himself as Iqbal, the trio started suspecting that he might be the same man wanted by the police over the communal violence in Comilla.
So, they took a photo with him and sent it to the Noakhali police for confirmation. Noakhali police then directed them to Comilla police who in turn notified the Cox’s Bazar police on their behalf.
After getting confirmation, the trio got Iqbal some food and held him back until the police arrived.
Confirming the matter, Noakhali (Begumganj Circle) Assistant Superintendent of Police Shah Imran said he was tipped off about Iqbal's whereabouts by the three Chhatra League men on Thursday night.
He said: “Anik and Mishu called me Thursday night and gave me information about Iqbal. I later contacted the Comilla and Cox's Bazar police and conveyed Iqbal’s location.”
Iqbal was later brought to Comilla Police Lines on Friday following his arrest in Cox’s Bazar.
Currently, he is being interrogated for potential leads in police custody under tight security.
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On October 13, a 999 call to police reported that a copy of the Quran was found on an idol of a puja venue in Comilla.
Locals said they found a copy of the Quran on the lap of Hanuman, a central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana, but his weapon, a club, was missing.
Several temples and puja venues in the city came under attack in the afternoon as tension mounted after the video went viral. Many shared the video calling for attacks on Hindu sites on allegations of sacrilege.
The violence later spread across Bangladesh, leaving seven dead and many Hindu houses and businesses vandalized.
They confirmed Iqbal’s identity by sending his photos to Noakhali police and kept him back until police arrived without arousing his suspicions
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