Neighbouring Muslim villagers launched an arson attack on a Hindu locality in the district’s Namo Para area on Friday morning, following the death of a college student.
A youth was killed and three others were injured in a clash between two groups of local youths. The clash erupted over a badminton game in Barisal sadar upazila on Thursday night.
The deceased was identified as Parvez Gazi, a student of Barisal Government BM College.
Local sources said hundreds of villagers from Char Aicha village attacked the Hindu locality, looting valuables and torching 16 houses around 9:50am following the death of the student and a rumor that another youth injured in the clash, Zahidul, had succumbed to his injuries.
However, there were no reports of injuries when this report was filed at 2:30pm.
Md Shamsuddin, commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said that police rushed to the spot immediately after the incident and held four people for their alleged involvement in the arson attack.
Additional police have been deployed to the area to avoid any further unrest, he added.
The BMP Commissioner said police were also trying to detain the people behind Thursday’s clash.
Our Correspondent reports: Two groups of local youths locked into a clash on Thursday night over a game of badminton. At one stage of the clash, some Hindu youths hacked four Muslim youths, leaving them critically injured.
Later, Parvez died at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College around 9:00pm.
On Friday morning, rumor spread in the area that another injured, Zahidul, had died. Following the news, thousands of people from Char Aicha village attacked the Hindu locality.