His troubles pile up

Jamal Ibne Musa, dubbed the real-life “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” for his efforts to reunite an Indian boy with his family, is now facing police harassment for that very cause.

He alleged that police searched his village home and that his relatives were absconding to avoid arrest.

“My brother-in-law is caught by police. My only son is on the run while my wife is passing tough time at home,” he added.

The family who allegedly trafficked the New Delhi boy, Sonu, about half a decade ago into Bangladesh, filed a case on Sunday against him and his family members, bringing charges of assaulting a woman, said Musa.

They are influential people. That is why police were favouring them, he alleged.

Musa, hailing from Betagi upazila of Barguna, urged the authorities concerned, including the National Human Rights Commission, to take initiatives to end his sufferings.

Sonu, now 12, was tricked and brought to Bangladesh allegedly by Musa's neighbours Aklima Begum and Rahima Begum in 2010.

The boy is now staying at Jessore Kishore Unnayan Kendra. He talked to his parents in New Delhi over the phone, said Musa.

After the news of Musa's noble initiative made headlines in the Bangladesh media, Hasi Begum, sister of Aklima and Rahima, filed the case against Musa and six of his family members with Betagi Police Station.

He left home and is now living in the capital city to avoid harassment and, more importantly, to complete his mission of reuniting Sonu with his parents, said Musa.

Earlier, Musa spent 41 days in jail after the abductor's family members filed cases against him.

After getting released on bail, he went to New Delhi and traced Sonu's parents there.

In December last year, Musa ran into Sonu on the Barguna court premises. He then took the boy under his custody and brought him to Dhaka, and spoke with police officials and rights activists about sending the boy back home.

On their advice, he took the boy to Barguna. There, with the help of the wife of a local lawmaker, he produced Sonu before a court on December 22.

The court then sent the boy to the juvenile correction centre.

Contacted yesterday, Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Betagi Police Station, refuted allegations of harassing Musa and his family members.

A case was filed and police were investigating the incident as per law, he told The Daily Star over the phone.

The OC further said a police team went to Musa's home as part of their investigation.