The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

Members of intelligence agencies and law enforcers, hunting down for Jibon Singh, in connection with the theft of the Nobel Prize medal of poet Rabindranath Tagore, suspect that the main accused was living incognito in the capital.

Jibon, a leader of Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), an insurgent outfit of Assam, and his local associate Abul Hossain evaded arrest 25 times. The law enforcers suspected they were hiding in the old part of the city.

West Bengal CID sent letter to their Bangladesh counterparts in December, 2007 for his arrest and deportation.

RAB and CID claimed they searched for Jibon after receiving the letter but they could not find him.

On February 2, the CID arrested Mohammad Hossain Shiplu, a Bangladeshi aide to Jibon Singh, from the capital's Azimpur area. Shiplu is the son of Abul Hossain, a handicraft businessman of DCC Market in Gulshan.

The CID arrested Shiplu in connection with the theft of the Nobel Prize medal of poet Rabindranath Tagore and for his close relations with Jibon.

After the arrest, RAB conducted several raids at the DCC Market for the medal. They also grilled Shiplu several times but neither the medal was found nor Jibon Singh's whereabouts known.

Intelligence agencies have also quizzed 20 relatives of Abul Hossain for information about him and Jibon Singh. The agencies gathered that the accused persons are keeping in touch with their relatives over mobile phone.

An official of the CID told the New Nation last night that several teams of the department were active to arrest the KLA leader and his main associate within a short time. The official further said that they have all necessary information regarding Jibon Singh.

The CID official said Jibon is accused in at least seven cases of murder, detonating explosives, illegal arms and subversive activities.

According to sources, at least 350 to 400 Bangladeshi criminals are hiding in India while a number of Indian criminals are also staying in Bangladesh. Law enforcement agencies of both the countries have already arrested a number of them on both the sides.

"Since there is no extradition treaty between the two countries, West Bengal CID deported eight Bangladeshi criminals on the basis of friendly relationship," the CID official said.

The CID was trying hard to arrest Jibon Singh, as India refuses to deport any more Bangladeshi criminals without him.

RAB-3 Commanding officer Sultan Mohmmad Nurani yesterday told The New Nation, "We have checked out all the clues given by Shiplu about Jibon Singh. He and Abul may be hiding in old town. We are confident of arresting them soon."

This view was echoed by RAB-10 commanding Officer SM Kamal Hossain.