4 arrested over looting Noakhali temple

Four people have been arrested over attacks and looting at a temple in Chowmuhani area of Noakhali's Begumganj upazila during the Durga Puja celebrations on October 15.

Rab members held them with looted brass idols and other valuables during raids in different areas of Dhaka, Narayanganj and Noakhali on Sunday, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, Rab legal and media wing director, told a press briefing at its media centre in the capital yesterday.

The arrestees are: Monir Hossain Rubel, 28, Jaker Hossain Rabbi, 20, Md Ripon, 21, and Nazrul Islam Sohag, 36.

Being instigated by social media posts, Rubel, Rabbi and Ripon directly took part in the attacks and looted valuables from the temple, he said adding that Rubel was seen in CCTV footage taking the valuables in three sacks.

The three in association with Sohag were trying to sell the looted valuables to a scrap material shop, he said.

The arrestees were previously accused in mugging cases filed with Begumganj Police Station, the Rab official said, adding that the elite force did not find their links with any political party.

Rab is trying to arrest others involved in the attacks and looting, the official said.