The hoodlum reportedly responsible for Mary Yusuf Sharmin's suicide threatened her parents yesterday to withdraw the murder case against him to get back their son who too had been abducted by his men.

Mary, 18, committed suicide on June 28 at her house in Sutkhalpur area in Demra, half an hour after her return from local hoodlum Mohammad Ali alias Raju's residence. She went there to negotiate the release of her brother Shahin who had been abducted by Raju's gang the previous day.

Mary's father Yusuf Ali has filed a murder case with Demra Police Station accusing Raju of being the cause for her death.

Sharmin's mother Nazma Begum told newsmen that one of the associates of Raju phoned to inform that they would free Shahin only if the case against Raju is withdrawn.

"They also threatened to kill my other children if we don't pull back from the case," she said adding, "Three of his men came to my house the previous day to mount the pressure."

Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Abdul Kashem of Demra Police Station, meanwhile, doubted the kidnap.

"The kidnap incident may be a

set-up by the family,"he said adding the family members did not inform the police about it earlier and no case has yet been filed in this connection.

Police so far could not nab Raju or any of his accomplices and rescue Shahin after nine days since the kidnap.

Raju's family members alleged the IO is not active enough to arrest the culprits or to make any rescue attempt.

Kashem brushed aside the allegation and said, "Raju, a mugger and an associate of local influential people, hasn't been in the area for the last couple of days." He said,"We raided the area more than once but could not find him."