SM Mizanur Rahman :A 10-year old boy received serious bullet wounds when the local ruling Awami League lawmaker shot at his two legs at Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha district on Friday morning.According to locals and family members, the lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton from Gaibandha-1 constituency opened fire at the legs of the minor boy Shadat Hossain Shourav Mia while he was playing near BRAC crossing in Golapcharan area at about 5:45am on Sundarganj-Rangpur road.Son of Saju Mia of Gopalcharan village, Shourav is a student of class 1V of Huravaya Kha Government Primary School. Critically injured Shourav was rushed to Sundarganj Upazila Health Complex from where he was shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) following deterioration of his condition.”Our local lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton opened at least five gunshots targeting my son Shourav. I know nothing what was the reason and why the MP shot at my son’s legs while he was playing,” Shourav’s father Saju Mia told journalists. “I want justice,” he said. Victim’s mother Selina Begum, now beside his son at RMCH, demanded exemplary punishment to the lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton. “I want justice,” she cried at the hospital. Shahjahan Ali, uncle of Shourav, said like previous day when he along with his nephew was jogging in the morning in the area the MP’s car stopped in front of them.”The lawmaker Liton signalled me to go to his car. But I didn’t respond to his call and when tried to run away, the lawmaker started firing several rounds of gunshots targeting us. Shourav received bullet wounds at his two legs,” he said. Meanwhile, talking to The New Nation Abdus Samad, Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha said whether the lawmaker was involved in shooting the minor boy is now under investigation. “It is correct that a minor boy was shot at. But I can’t make comment whether the lawmaker was involved in the crime or not,” he said. When contacted Superintendent of Police of Gaibandha Mohammad Ashraful Islam and Officer-in-Charge of Sundarganj Police Station Md Jinnat Ali also confirmed the shooting incident but refused to say who was involved in such crime. “A shooting incident took place early Friday and a minor boy sustained bullet wounds. He is now undergoing treatment at RMCH. We are yet to be confirmed who shot the minor boy. However, I along with other members of law enforcing agencies visited the spot. And we have already started investigating into the shooting incident,” the Gaibandha police super told The New Nation on Friday evening.OC of Sundarganj Police Station Md Jinnat Ali said they are investigating the incident.When asked whether police are afraid of the local lawmaker as they have tightened their lips about the incident, the OC said if anyone carried out a criminal offence, he will not be spared even if he belongs to the ruling party. According to locals, the lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton riding a car was going to Sundarganj from Bamondan.
