By Sahidul Islam Nirab
A house of a Hindu family was vandalized in Bancharampur upazila of Brahmanbaria and valuables looted following a Facebook post that allegedly defamed Islam Dhaka Tribune
Victim Balai Das and his family members are currently living elsewhere fearing they could be attacked again
A house belonging to a Hindu family was vandalized in Brahmanbaria and valuables looted following a Facebook post that allegedly defamed Islam.
The incident took place at Daspara village under Darikandi union of Bancharampur upazila at around 11pm on Wednesday night.
Police arrested four people in connection with the incident on Thursday evening after victim Balai Das filed a case with Bancharampur police station accusing some unnamed people, said Bancharampur police station Officer-in-Charge Md Salauddin Ahmed
The arrested, identified as Pulok, 18, Rashedul Haque alais Fahim, 18, Siam, 18 and a 17-year-old boy from the Darikandi Moddhopara village of the upazila.
According to sources, a group of locals attacked Balai Das’s home at around 11pm on Wednesday claiming that his son Bijoy Das, who lives in Kuwait posted pictures that defamed Islam. The miscreants vandalized and also looted valuables from the house.
This correspondent could not speak to victim Balai Das’s family members as they are living elsewhere fearing they could be attacked again.
Besides, Balai Das’s mobile number was also found switched off.
Regarding the matter, Bancharampur police station Officer-in-Charge Md Salauddin Ahmed said: District Superintendent of Police Muhammad Anisur Rahman visited the scene on Thursday morning and spoke to locals about the matter of the incident.”
Additional police personnel were deployed at the scene and the situation is currently under control, he added.
Meanwhile, Mintu Ranjan Saha, president of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad Bancharampur chapter, said: “We have visited Balai Das’s home and spoken to him and his family members. His house was vandalized. We have notified local lawmaker ABM Tazul Islam about the matter.”
“I demand arrest and exemplary punishment to those involved in the vandalism of Balai Das’s house.” he added.
The attack was carried out on Balai Das’s house at a time when the Hindu people across the country were trying to come to terms with the vandalism and torching of some Hindu houses at the Korbanpur village under Muradnagar upazila in Comilla on November 1.
The office of the local Union Parishad Chairman Bankumar Shiv and the house of Shankar Debnath, were vandalized and was set on fire for allegedly defaming Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) on Facebook.
On October 29, an unruly mob lynched Abu Yunus Md Shahidunnabi Jewel, based on rumours that he had allegedly desecrated the Quran at the prayer hall of Burimari Central Jame Mosque at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.
