The case was lodged by Pobitra Ballav, one of the victims, against 15 JCD activists. It was was recorded under sections 143, 325, 379, 389, 435 and 448 of Penal Code, police sources said.

Police yesterday arrested three JCD activists -- Rubell Molla, Tuku Molla and Karim Molla.

The case was accepted after Circle Inspector Aktaruzzaman visited the area and ordered Agoiljhara police station to record it, refused by police earlier.

Police sources said Aktaruzzaman during the visit found evidences in favor of the allegations made by members of the minority community.

When contacted, Agoiljhara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Latif and OC Yusuf Hossain declined to make any comment in this connection.

In the case, it was alleged that a gang led by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader Abdul Qayum tried to abduct Upen Ballav's teenage daughter Namita on the night of May 5.

Local people caught Qayum but he was snatched by his associates.

Some people including Namita's uncles Gobinda Ballav and Amol Ballav were injured in the attack.

But police recorded a case filed by the alleged attackers and arrested Gobinda, forcing many minority community people to go into hiding to avoid alleged police harassment.

On May 19, the hoodlums led by Qayum again attacked the village and torched the house of Upen Ballav.

This time also, when local people rushed to Agoiljhara police station to lodge a case, the on-duty constable allegedly misbehaved with them and drove them out of the compound.

Several hundred people of the area brought out a procession Sunday morning protesting the attack by JCD men and alleged police harassment and demanding security of life and arrest of the attackers.