For more than six decades, Abdul Gafur Mallick, blind since birth, has lived a life of quiet dignity—earning his livelihood without begging despite poverty and disability.

On Friday night, that hard-earned peace was shattered when miscreants attacked his home in Kholabaria village of Rajbari Sadar upazila.

The attackers vandalised his house and looted cash, also targeting neighbouring homes during the incident.

Abdul Gafur’s adopted son Abdul Baten Mallick later filed a complaint with Rajbari Sadar Police Station.

Khondaker Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Rajbari Sadar Police Station, said police arrested Nurjahan Begum, 55, wife of late Amir Sheikh, on Saturday afternoon and sent her to court.

“We are continuing efforts to arrest the other accused,” he said.

Abdul Baten alleged a group led by local Nannu Sheikh attacked their house with locally made weapons late Friday night. The miscreants damaged the tin fencing of the house and looted around Tk 55,000 in cash.

“They did not stop at our house,” he said. “They also attacked my uncle Hanif Mallick’s house, vandalising fences and furniture of three houses and looting cash and valuables worth more than Tk 1 lakh.”

Abdul Baten alleged the attack stemmed from a recent dispute involving him, his elder brother and Nannu Sheikh and Saddam Sheikh over a bakery business.

He said Rezaul Islam Nazir and several unidentified individuals were also involved.

Speaking in a trembling voice, Abdul Gafur said he could not understand why the attack happened. “They came at night, broke my house and took money. I don't even know how much they took,” he said. “I cannot see anything. My son knows the details. I only want justice.”

Abdul Gafur, now 75, was born into a poor family and lost his eyesight at birth. As a teenager, he was urged to beg for survival, but he refused. Instead, he began selling nuts and seeds door to door—a struggle he has continued for more than 60 years, earning respect for his self-reliance and resilience.

His life story previously touched many on social media and eventually reached then BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. On his instruction, Rahul Kabir Rizvi, adviser to Amra BNP Paribar and senior joint secretary general of BNP, visited Abdul Gafur’s home on October 30 last year and provided Tk 1.75 lakh in financial assistance.

Today, however, the man known locally as a symbol of perseverance is once again fighting—not blindness or poverty, but fear and insecurity—hoping justice will restore the calm to his modest home.