Hindu college teacher hacked in Madaripur

Hacked on his head and neck, Maths lecturer Ripon Chakrabarty, 45, was first rushed to Madaripur Sadar Hospital but later shifted to Barisal Medical College Hospital. Locals caught one of the attackers named Ghulam Faizullah, 25, while fleeing the scene and handed him over to police. He came from Chapainawabganj along with the two other attackers. Faizullah told the police that he had no idea about their identities or plans. The attack took place at a time when the law enforcers are conducting countrywide drives to nab criminals, and drug and arms dealers, and militants in the wake of rising incidents of targeted killings at the hands of extremist groups eyeing to establish Shariah Law in the country. A Hindu monastery attendant was hacked to death in Pabna last Friday, the day the anti-militant drive began. International militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the murder. Eyewitnesses and locals said that the teacher was staying at his house in College Road area after he had returned from the college at noon. “Three youths knocked at his door around 4:30pm, and they swooped on him as soon as he opened the door. “The attackers fled the scene as many locals gathered outside the house hearing screams. At that time one of the attackers was caught red-handed,” eyewitness and house owner Sobhan Munshi told the Dhaka Tribune. Hailing from Bilugram at Gouranodi in Barisal, Ripon used to live in a small room at the house. Additional Superintendent of Police Uttam Kumar Paul said that they were looking into the matter seriously. OC Ziaul Morshed suspected Islamist militants for the attack considering the attacking style. He hoped that they would be able to glean more information about the attack from the lone arrestee. The fresh attack on a Hindu community member amid the security raids has created panic among the locals. Recently, a Hindu headmaster from a Narayanganj school was issued death threat after he was tortured and humiliated by radical Muslims based on a false allegation of defaming Allah. On May 30, another Hindu teacher of a Bogra school was suspended as the local Muslims besieged the school demanding his punishment allegedly for liking a Facebook post derogatory to Islam. It should be mentioned that campaigns against the Hindus in general and particularly those engaged in teaching and other professions have been continuing unabated for the last few months when the militant groups claimed they had killed at least five Hindu priests and monastery staff since January. Meanwhile, intelligence sources say at least 13 Hindu teachers from different districts including the Narayanganj school teacher are facing death threats by banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team allegedly for defaming Islam and the Prophet. On the other hand, Islamic State claimed that their members had killed a Hindu tailor in Tangail on April 30 allegedly for making derogatory comments about the Muslims four years back.