3 arrested for attacking members of minority community in Habiganj

Habiganj police last night arrested three persons on charge of attacking members of a minority community who protested "filming three girls of the community who were bathing" in the district's Madhabpur upazila.

The arrestees are: Khelu Mia (55), Rehana Begum (35) and Farida Begum (28). All are residents of Manipur village of the upazila.

Those who were filming are still on the run, said Golam Dastagir Ahmed, inspector (investigation) of Madhabpur Police Station

Describing the incident, a relative of one of the girls said they were bathing in a pond near their houses on Sunday afternoon.

Four youths -- Humayun Mia, Sharif Mia, Shahab Uddin, and Bayezid Mia -- took their photographs and videos with their mobile phones, she said.

Returning home, the girls told their family members who complained to Humayun's family, said Kamrul Islam, in-charge of the Chhatyian Police Outpost.

Then, Humayun along with his men attacked and vandalised two houses where the girls lived. Humayun apparently also threw children into the pond, said Kamrul, citing the statement of the case filed by the girls' family.

At least 10 persons were injured during the attack. They took treatment at Upazila Health Complex, police and family members said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad's Madhabpur upazila unit general secretary Rajib Deb Roy Raju said they are independently investigating the attack.

Expressing resentment over the delay in arresting those who filmed the girls, the minority leader said they would go for tougher movement if the culprits are not arrested immediately.