The Probe committee formed to investigate the November 15 arson attack on the minority Hindu community at Char Kawa village in Barisal submitted its report yesterday.
The report findings were not immediately available but additional deputy commissioner Abul Kalam Azad – the head of the three-member committee - said miscreants torched 15 houses and looted valuables belonging to Hindus following the death of college student Parvez Gazi and the rumour of another person in a clash that took place at Char Kawa village under Barisal sadar upazila on November 15.
Abul Kalam Azad said the report highlighted deficiencies in the surveillance of the situation, the deployment of numbers of law enforcers, and taking steps for creating intercommunity peaceful coexistence and amity.
Sadar upazila nirbahi officer Shamima Ferdousi and administrative magistrate Fakhrul Hasan were also on the committee, which submitted its report to the deputy commissioner yesterday evening.
Rezaul Islam, officer-in-charge of Barisal Bandar police station and also investigation officer of both cases, said after the incident police had arrested a total of 25 people in connection with the college student murder and arson attacks.
On November 17, Selim Gazi, father of Parvez Gazi, lodged a murder case with metropolitan magistrate court against 13 people. Indicted so far by police are Pijush Haldar, Sonto Haldar, Sumon Haldar and Sagar Das. Police also arrested Dhiren Haldar, the father of prime accused Dhiman Haldar, in this connection.
Next date of hearing of this case was fixed December 23.
On November 18, Devranjan Haldar, a victim of the arson attack, lodged a case with Bandar police station accusing 1,600 people, without mentioning any names, for attacking and torching the houses of minority people.
A total of 21 people were indicted in the case of arson attack: Selim Haoladar, Zakir Hossain, Shahidul Khan, Al-Amin, Jewel, Yusuf, Nur Alam Khan, Rafiq, Suraj Haoladar, Ahsan Habib, Kazi Salam, Alam Gazi, Nurul Huq, Sabuj Haoladar, Arif, Jewel, Ujjal, Manik Khan, Enamul Huq Pavel, Russell and Miraj Khan.
Moreover, police yesterday arrested two youths in connection with arson attack.
Metropolitan Magistrate Rafikul Islam rejected the bail prayer and fixed December 11 for next hearing.
A total of 15 houses with two temples of minority community at Nomo Para were fully gutted and seven partially burned down damaging properties worthTk10m.
Local people and victims said that strong step of law enforcing agencies could prevent the atrocities, quoted in the probe report.
