Arrest post-polls perpetrators, HC asks IGP

This January 17 photo shows the house of a Hindu family at Muhuripara of Satkania in Chittagong after criminals burnt it to the ground.

The High Court today directed the inspector general of police (IGP) to find out the real culprits responsible for attacks on the minority people after the January 5 parliamentary polls.

The IGP has been asked to bring the perpetrators to book through the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other intelligence agencies.

While hearing a suo moto rule, the court asked the authorities concerned to bring charges against the culprits under proper sections of laws to ensure their punishment.

The HC bench of Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain expressed dissatisfaction over the police report in connection with the cases as ‘there was no satisfactory progress in investigation into the incidents’.

Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy who submitted the police report before the bench said police were not so serious about arresting the perpetrators.

There was no sufficient progress in the investigation as the police did not arrest the accused whose names has been mentioned in the First Information Reports in most of the cases.

The DIG also said the sections under which the cases were filed are inappropriate for ensuring exemplary punishment to the culprits.

According to police reports submitted to the High Court recently, around 160 incidents of attacks and atrocities on Hindus took place in 21 districts after the January 5 polls.

The atrocities include injuring Hindu people, damaging their houses, temples and business establishments and setting them on fire, and looting valuables.

The reports say 36 criminal cases, including three general diaries, have so far been filed with different police stations in the 21 districts in connection with the incidents.

Hindus in Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Netrakona, Sherpur, Tangail, Comilla, Chandpur, Bagerhat, Jessore, Narail, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore, Joypurhat, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Rangpur, Gaibandha Nilphamari and Thakurgaon districts came under the attacks. 

As many as 139 people have so far been arrested, the reports say, adding that necessary security measures have been taken to protect the Hindus and apparently vulnerable people in the districts.