14 accused out of net, victims threatened

Police are yet to nab 14 of the culprits accused in the August 23 arson on houses of Hindu families in Adom Sarkerpara in Pirgachha upzila.

Eighteen houses belonging to eight families were torched in the incident.

The affected families now feel insecure as the attackers are now threatening of retaliation, sources claimed.

Leaders of several humanitarian and human rights organisations visited the affected families, met police and the administration and urged officials to track down the culprits.

A number of delegates from humanitarian bodies, led by Mallick Shudhangsu of HRCBF of Khulna, visited the affected families on Friday and distributed money and relief goods for their rehabilitation.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha

Cristian Oikkyo Parishad (BBHCOP) Dr Nimchandra

Bhoumic along with some of its central leaders also visited the families on Friday.

Later at a press conference at Rangpur Press Club, Bhoumic urged the local administration to take action against the culprits responsible for the barbarous attack.

Police arrested seven of the accused since August 23.

Local people caught three of them on the day when they were looting seven cows after the arson.

Police arrested four more accused from different areas in Rangpur district. The rest 14 accused are absconding, said a police official in Pirgachha.

The Officer-in-charge of Pirgachha thana told The Daily Star that search is going on to nab the 14 accused.

Quoting the affected families, Dr. Nimchandra told the press conference that the Hindu families feel insecure as the culprits are threatening them from their hideouts.