Cops dilly-dallying with arrests

We have provided multiple videos of the violence. Many attackers can clearly be identified. They are still in the village but police have not arrested them.

— Anonymous victim Whose house was vandalised

Many attackers of the Narail mayhem have already been identified through video footage. They are still roaming around the village but police did not arrest them, alleged the victims.

At least 11 homes, five temples and dozens of shops were vandalised or burnt down in Narail's Sahapara on July 15. The attacks were carried out by mobs on the grounds of "hurting religious sentiments" due to a Facebook post allegedly made by a Hindu youth from the neighbourhood.

Later, police filed a case accusing some 200 to 250 unnamed attackers but could only arrest eight of them till yesterday.

This correspondent yesterday talked to over a dozen victims whose houses and shops were vandalised or torched. They expressed frustration over police's role in arresting the attackers.

"We have provided multiple videos of the violence. Many attackers can clearly be identified. They are still in the village but police have not arrested them," said a victim whose house was vandalised.

"Some attackers are now coming to our village in disguise of sympathisers with different organisations. Their faces are clear in the videos," said another victim, requesting anonymity.

"Some policemen were also present during the attack and even saw the attackers," said an anonymous Sahapara youth. Meanwhile, many of the Hindus, who fled the areas after the mayhem, have started returning home.

"But people of the community are still scared of another attack due to many attackers not being arrested," said Barun Kumar Saha, a local schoolteacher.

Amid their frustration, villagers are arranging meals for the law enforcers deployed in the village for ensuring security for Sahapara's Hindus.

"As part of our hospitality, we are providing food to law enforcers for their efforts," said Shibnath Saha, one of the arrangers, whose house also came under attack.

Contacted, Lohagara police station OC SK Abu Hena Milon said, "We are conducting drives to arrest the accused who are on the run."