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he said. “I’ve been living in this area for a long time. It’s a family neighbourhood and we try to keep it safe for our children.”

“But I’ve been noticing presence of drug peddlers here, and had been protesting that.” Later, the matter was reported to police, he added.

Dr Ali further alleged that Shamim and Hassan, a year ago, misbehaved with his neighbour Prof Habibullah as he too protested their drug peddling.

This newspaper also spoke with Prof Habibullah, who is currently working at National Curriculum and Textbook Board.

He said a group of youth led by Shamim and Hassan wanted to beat him with a stick in front of his house. “We did not say anything about it and kept quiet,” he added.

The Daily Star could not reach Shamim or Hassan for comments as both of their mobile phones were turned off. Police said both are on the run after the incident.

Contacted, Harun-ur-Rashid, a sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, who visited the spot after the incident, said Abul Hossen is being treated at Savar Enam Medical College Hospital under police custody.

Quoting locals, the SI said, “We heard that JU BCL leader Shamim Mollah fired the shots. There were seven of them in total.”

“Abul Hossen is an associate of Shamim and Hassan. We got to know the names of five people. Efforts are on to arrest them and to know about the source of the weapon,” said Rashid, also the case’s investigation officer. “We are also quizzing Hossen.”

He did not elaborate further.

Asked, Jewel Rana, president of JU unit of BCL, admitted that Shamim is a BCL leader.

Regarding the incident, he said, “I’m yet to know the details. Organisational action will be taken against him if he’s involved in the incident.”

Meanwhile wishing anonymity, several students of JU alleged that besides being involved in drug peddling, Shamim often used to threaten journalists at the university, beat students and brandish firearms on the campus.