Charge sheet against 228 today

Police will today submit charge sheet in the case for the attack on Goura Mandir, a Hindu temple in Nasirnagar upazila headquarters under the district, on October 30 last year.

The charge sheet that included 228 people was prepared based on the case filed by Nirmal Chowdhury, general secretary of Goura Mandir committee, in connection with the attack on the temple, Abu Zafor, officer-in-charge (OC) of Nasirnagar Police Station, said yesterday.

The accused include Nasirnagar Sadar Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Abul Hashem, suspended chairman of Haripur UP Dewan Atiqur Rahman Ankhi, president of Haripur union Awami League (recommended to be expelled from party) Faruk Mia, president of Chapartala union Awami League (recommended to be expelled from party) Suruj Ali, general secretary of the upazila BNP Abdul Hannan, joint general secretary Amirul Hossain Chakdar, Haripur union BNP president Jamal Mia, the OC said.

On October 30 last year, around 200 religious bigots attacked at least 15 temples in Nasirnagar upazila headquarters and vandalised seven to eight idols. They also vandalised and looted about 100 Hindu homes in several localities of Nasirnagar over a Facebook post purportedly from the account of one Rasraj Das, 27. The attackers also beat up over 100 people of the minority community.

Six more houses of Hindus were set afire in the upazila a few days later, followed by an attack on the houses of Nasirnagar Upazila Parishad Vice-Chairman Anjan Deb and a Hindu fisherman.

The attacks were made claiming that the post 'hurt the religious sentiment' of the Muslims.

Rasraj is from Haripur union, about 13km from the place of the attack.

Before his arrest and the systematic mayhem, Rasraj claimed he had nothing to do with the post.

Eight cases have been filed in connection with the attacks.

So far, 124 suspects, including prime suspect Dewan Atiqur Rahman Ankhi, have been arrested and produced before the court for trial.

Now all of them are free on bail.