Jamaat-Shibir activists wearing masks launched a violent attack on Hindu community in Jessore on Sunday night, allegedly for voting for boat.
They set fire at a number of houses and looted some 107 residences of the Hindu community people at Malopara-Chapatala village under Abhaynagar upazila.
Witnesses said some 100 people of the locality had to jump into the Bhairab River around 4pm on Sunday in order to save themselves from the violent attack of the Jamaat-Shibir activists as they were equipped with firearms, crude bombs, machetes, iron bars and sticks.
The masked attackers were activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, alleged the victims and police.
Visiting the spot the, signs of attacks on several houses owned by fishermen was observed. Ashes were also seen as sign of arson attacks. Sign of panic was observed on the faces of the dwellers of the damaged houses, too.
A 15-member police team led by Abhaynagar police station Sub-Inspector Arifur Rahman was deployed in the area after the terrorist activities by over 100 miscreants of Jamaat-Shibir. The police officer said the situation was under control.
Jamaat-Shibir men carried out the attack on the Hindus after the elections, said the police official.
Local Lawmaker Ranjit Kumar Roy, who unofficially won Jessore 4 polls in the Sunday’s election, said: “The attack was carried out under the influence of the police administration.”
He also alleged that the officer in-charge of Abhaynagar police station patronised the attackers.
However Shifat Mehnaz, upazila nirbahi officer, Abhaynagar, did not seem to be aware of such a huge arson attack and looting incident carried out by the Jamaat-Shibir activists.
She said: “Miscreants attacked some 12 houses at Malopara under the upazila after the election on Sunday.
It is not clear who carried out the attacks,” she added.
Entering into the residence of Dulal Biswas, the sign of arson attack was clearly seen. Utensils were scattered on the floor and ashes of burning households were still there.
Ranjita Biswas, wife of the owner of the house, told the Dhaka Tribune that the certificates of her daughter Anita Biswas, a third-year honours student of the department of political science at Government BL College, Khulna, was burned during the arson attack.
She said: “They also looted various valuables, including cash money and gold ornaments while conducting the mayhem.
Asim Sirkar, vice-president, Chapatala Krishi Shamabaya Samity, said: “We came under the fierce attack as we have cast our votes for boat.”
The 10th general elections took place on Sunday. At least 22 people were killed during and after the polls in different parts of the country.
