Four men were injured by bullets when police opened fire on a group of Hindu devotees taking them for robbers at Sechania village of Santhia upazila early yesterday.
The injured are Koushik Sarkar, Krishna Karmakar, Mitun Haldar and Anondo Kumar, aged between 25 and 35, of Tolot village in the same upazila.
About eight devotees worshipped God Mohadeb at a temple at Tolot village in Santhia upazila early yesterday and had been on way to a nearby village to perform the rituals of “Hazra,” -- a traditional rite performed at Chaitra Sankranti (the last day of the Bengali year), said Koushik's brother Shilpi Gobinda Sarkar.
When the group reached a bamboo bridge at Sechania village around 3:30am, a police patrol led by Mojibar Rahman, assistant sub-inspector of Santhia Police Station, attacked them.
“Although they were carrying some symbolic weapons (sword, trident), police beat them up very badly and fired shots at them,” added Shilpi.
Locals whisked the injured to Santhia Upazila Health Complex and Pabna Medical College Hospital for treatment. The four returned home in the afternoon, said family sources.
Contacted, ASI Mojibur claimed his team fired at the group thinking them to be robbers.
“Painted all over, they were running with sharp weapons. We asked them to halt but they kept on moving forward ignoring our orders, which compelled us to open fire,” he added.
Sushil Kumar Das, secretary of Puja Udjapan Parishad in Santhia upazila, said the Shiva worshippers cannot even speak a word before reaching the destination.
He condemned the attack on the devotees and demanded proper investigation into the incident.
A primary investigation has found that police had mistakenly shot the devotees taking them for robbers, Superintendent of Pabna police Jahangir Hossain Matobbar told The Daily Star.
ASI Mojibar has been closed to the police lines. A committee comprised of two assistant superintendents of police has launched a probe into the matter, he mentioned adding, departmental action will be taken if any law enforcer is found guilty.
Local lawmaker and State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku visited the victims at Santhia Upazila Health Complex and assured the Hindu leaders of proper inquiry into the incident.