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In Ishwardi, Pabna, allegations have surfaced against the notorious "Kakn Bahini" from Lalpur for engaging in a cinematic-style indiscriminate shooting to seize control of a sandbar. A herder named Sohan Hossain (28) was injured in the gunfire. The incident has sparked tension in the area. The incident occurred on Saturday morning (July 12) in the Sara and Islampur areas of Sara Union, Ishwardi Upazila. The injured Sohan Molla, son of Sahabuddin Molla from Mazdia Choudhurypara in Ishwardi, was initially admitted to the Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Pabna General Hospital. According to police and local sources, the "Kakn Bahini," a notorious group from Lalpur, has been controlling sandbars in various areas, including Bheramara and Daulatpur in Kushtia, Lalpur in Natore, and Ishwardi in Pabna. While they have taken control of most sandbars, they have been unable to dominate the Sara Ghat due to a legitimate leaseholder. On June 5, the group allegedly fired shots in a dramatic manner at the same location, which was reported in various media outlets, leading to a brief pause in their activities. However, on Saturday morning, the group resumed their aggressive tactics, arriving via speedboats and boats and firing indiscriminately. During this incident, Sohan Hossain, a cattle herder cutting grass, was shot. Sohan Hossain, the injured herder, said, “I was cutting grass for my cattle when suddenly a speedboat and a boat approached, and they started firing at the ghat. I stepped forward to see what was happening, and a bullet hit my hand. I fell to the ground, and people later took me to the hospital.” Following the incident, tension has gripped the ghat area. Additional police forces have been deployed to control the situation. During a visit to the site, Ishwardi Police Station’s Investigation Officer Monirul Islam said, “We rushed to the scene upon hearing about the incident. We heard a herder was shot, but we haven’t confirmed his identity yet. Further details will emerge after the investigation.” Mehedi Hasan and Toni Biswas, the government-authorized leaseholders of Sara Ghat, stated, “Kakn, an Awami League leader from Lalpur, and Milan Choudhury, joint secretary of Ishwardi Jubo League, are trying to control both legal and illegal sandbars using their armed groups. We are conducting our sand business legally by paying government dues. They demand extortion from us, and when we refuse, they repeatedly carry out such shootings. How can we run a business like this? Not only us, but local farmers can’t work either. The administration is failing to provide any security.” Efforts to contact the accused Awami League leader Kakn and Ishwardi Jubo League joint secretary Milan Choudhury were unsuccessful, and their statements could not be obtained.
