Police later picked Sunil Sarkar, who teaches at Madhya Hashara Government Primary School and is held in huge respect as a teacher and social worker, from his house at 5:00pm and took him into custody.

The police officer, without making any specific charges against Sarkar, had asked the teacher to accompany him to Hashara Police Camp, according to his wife Sabita Rani Sarkar and eyewitnesses.

Local people said Sarkar was never engaged in any criminal activities.

The detentions sent fear among about 2,000 minority voters who preferred to skip voting fearing similar harassment, some voters told The Daily Star.

"My husband has never been charged with criminal offence. I don't know why he has been detained but his arrest prompted hundreds of other Hindu voters to abstain from voting," Sabita said.

Police also detained another reputed local man, Abdul Kader Member, also without any charges.

Sarkar and Kader are supporters of main opposition Awami League, family sources said.

Police refused to comment on their detention.