More than 1,600 people were accused in two cases related to the death of a college student and retaliatory arson attacks on the houses and temples of a Hindu village in Barisal.
Four of the murder accused – out of 13 – were arrested so far. In addition, 21 people, have been arrested following the attack on Friday, were accused in the arson case.
The two cases were filed separately on Sunday afternoon and early Monday – days after the murder of a Muslim student named Parvez Gazi and attacks on four others that left them injured allegedly by Hindu youths on Thursday, which triggered a hostile attack on the Hindu-populated Namo Para in Char Aicha village the following day.
At least 16 houses and two temples were gutted and properties worth Tk10m damaged during the attack.
On Sunday, Selim Gazi, father of Parvez and a Barisal City Corporation official, filed a case with the metropolitan magistrate court accusing nine named and four unnamed individuals of killing his 20-year-old son.
The nine named were Pavel, 18, son of Sangkar Das, Dhiman, 20, son of Dhirendra Chandra Haldar, Pijush, 18, son of Gopal Chandra Haldar, Sagar Das, 20, son of Bimal Das, Sohag, 20, son of Sangkar Das, Suman Das, 18, son of Dham Das, Ruhidas Pal, 30, son of Ghatak Pal, Bimal, 35, father unnamed, and Rajiv, 16, son of Nasir Molla.
Devranjan Haldar, a victim of the arson attack, lodged another case on Monday in connection with the Friday incident with the Bandar police station, accusing a total of 1,600 unnamed individuals.
Police confirmed the news of arresting all 25 individuals, including the father of one accused in the murder case. All of them were sent to jail. “We are trying to arrest other accused in the cases,” Rezaul Islam, officer in charge of Bandar police station, said.
Meanwhile, about 30 panicked villagers of Char Aicha on Monday met with Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, the local lawmaker, at his Kawnia residence to seek his support during the post-attack period.
They expressed fear of further violence in the aftermath of the arrests of the accused, saying many affected families had left the village fearing a repeat attack.
“We lost everything, even our homes in that attack. Our children cannot go back to schools. We cannot sleep in peace. There is still high tension amongst all,” said Arati Rani Haldar, an affected villager.
The villagers sought security for their lives and households and rehabilitation of the homeless during their meeting with the lawmaker, who in turn promised to do what was needed.
Mojibor also distributed Tk5,000 and one shari amongst each of the 24 affected female villagers.
Meanwhile, political and community leaders along with local government officials have visited the spot following the incidents, to ease the tension and convince the escapees to return to their homes.