KHULNA. Aug 7: A total of 372 outlaws and terrorists out of 496 who surrendered to the government have so far been released on bail from Noornagar sub-jail.

Most of the outlaws and terrorists released on bail are FIR-named accused in murder, rape, robbery and arms cases. They had surrendered on July 2 at the local Circuit House maidan and on July 30 at the Kalpataru Market, depositing illegal firearms and ammunition.

But majority of those outlaws and terrorists later secured their release on bail with the help of police who showed them as "arrested under Section 54". concealing their criminal records, sources said.

Not a single firearm looted from Shiromoni Cable Factory, Noapara Akij Jute Mill, fish processing plants, launches and trains has been deposited. A large number of sophisticated arms are yet to be recovered from the metropolitan city. Most of these arms are still in possession of the armed cadres of different political parties, said one source in the Intelligence Branch.

The arms deposited here during two surrender functions are

either outdated or out of order. Besides, the firearms stolen from 'malkhana' of KMP on two occasions were not found on the lists of arms deposited, the source informed.

Police arranged the surrender of terrorists and outlaws 'with political motive'. The top terrorists and killers just enjoyed the benefit of getting arrested under Section 54 to be released on bail, said an eminent lawyer of Khulna Bar Association. This is because of the fact that the armed cadres of outlawed organisations were forwarded to court from subjail without making any reference to their criminal records of murder, rape, robberys and dacoity. the lawyer said. It is highly unethical and violation of criminal penal code, he ob-served.

Some top terrors of Du-muria and Tero-kheda told this correspondent on condition of anonymity that they also feared ’political victimisation’ after returning to normal life. "Police might arrest us again in case of our refusal to act as hired goons of the ruling party whenever called for," one of them said.

Matters relating to social security and job opportunity were also raised by a good number of outlaws who have been released on bail despite criminal background of murders and rapes.

Our fate hangs in the balance again as we are yet to receive any strong assurance from any quarter of the government about security of our lives and rehabilitation in the society, they said.

' May be. we will have to go back to underground life in case of insecurity, said Iqbal Hossain Shaikat." an armed cadre of Purbo Banglar Communist Party who was released on bail on August 1 despite 10 murder cases against him. He is the principal accused in a case filed ’ with Khanjahan Ali thana last year in connection with looting of 10 firearms from a cable factory.

Highly placed sources in the KMP and District police however said that law will take its own course.