Police arrest 6 over Pabna violence

Pabna, Sep 25  The police have arrested six leaders of Pabna district unit of the BNP, including its President and General Secretary, in the wee hours of Tuesday, a day after factional clashes in the district town left a BNP activist dead and 30 others injured.
Pabna Sadar Police Station Inspector Nurul Alam confirmed their arrest over violence following the killing of Milon Hossain, 30, who was shot dead during the clashes around 1pm.
The arrest comes after filing of two cases by the police on charges of attacking the law enforcers and obstructing their regular duty, accusing 56 people.
The arrestees are local BNP President Maj (Retd.) KS Mahmud, its General Secretary Khandaker Habibur Rahman Tota, who stand accused in both the cases, and activists 'Mahbub', Saddam Hossain, Abdul Motaleb and Abdul Momin.
The police raid on late Monday night, however, failed to trace out another 12/13 accused leaders of the party, including its Joint General Secretary Sabbir Hasan Bachchu and Organising Secretary Mahmudunnabi Swapan.
No murder case had been filed until Tuesday morning for the killing.
After the clash, Additional Superintendent of Police Shameem Ahmed had said the clashes were a culmination of a rivalry between local BNP leaders and incumbent Pabna Municipality Mayor Kamrul Hasan Mintu over selecting leadership for the district units of the party and other front organisations, including Jatiyatabdi Chhatra Dal – the party's student front.
District BNP President Mahmud and GS Tota lead one of the factions that clashed, while the other one is led by Pabna Municipality Mayor Kamrul Hasan Mintu. Mintu claimed the deceased belonged to his faction.