Defendants in the trial of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s murder got rough on Thursday (May 30) when they were produced before the court.
Court Inspector Md Zilani said that the incident took place while police was escorting the 21 people in custody, including the 16 defendants to the courtroom from the lock-up.
Just before entering the courtroom, they collectively attempted to manhandle Awami League’s Sonagazi upazila unit General Secretary Advocate Rafiqul Islam Khokon saying that he was one of the main conspirators.
Claiming that the charges against them were false, they slandered Khokon and created uproar until the police intervened.
Following the incident, extra police forces were deployed and outsiders were turned out of the court.
Responding to queries on the matter, AL leader and Sonagazi Municipality Mayor Rafiqul Islam said that he was not intimidated by their behaviour.
“We will not compromise with murderers,” he exclaimed.
Sonagazi Municipality Councillor and another AL leader Nur Nabi Liton claimed that Khokon was “the main instigator” of Nusrat’s murder.
“He along with his accomplices in order to save their skin framed his party nemesis. Hence the accused were resentful towards him,” he told Bangla Tribune.