Seven Jubo League and Chhatra League Activists Detained at an Awami League Leader's House in Gournadi During a Puja Invitation

Police in Gournadi upazila of Barisal have detained seven activists of the Jubo League and Chhatra League, associate organisations of the banned-activities Awami League. They were detained on Sunday afternoon (October 25) from the house of Saikat Guha Piklu, the recently former chairman of Mahilara Union Parishad and joint general secretary of the upazila Awami League.

Those detained include Salil Guha Pintu, Piklu's younger brother and a former member of the upazila Jubo League, Mohibul Alam Khokon, Masum Sardar, a former president of Ward 9 Chhatra League in the municipality, Mithun Haldar, Waskurni Akon and Palash Hawladar. The name of the seventh detainee was not immediately known.

Family members of the detainees said they had gone to the house for a Lakshmi Puja invitation. Police, however, did not give details about the reason for the detentions.

Former UP chairman Saikat Guha Piklu said a Lakshmi Puja ceremony was under way at their house and several well-wishers had been invited. He said that shortly before Sunday evening, several BNP activists and supporters came to the house, created a chaotic situation, and later handed six Puja guests, along with his younger brother Pintu Guha, over to the police.

Tarikh Hasan Russell, officer-in-charge of Gournadi Model Police Station, said the detainees would be sent to court on Monday morning after legal action was taken against them.