Attack on Sunamganj Hindus: Prime accused on 5-day remand, 2 more held

A Sunamganj court on Tuesday granted police five-day remand to interrogate Shahidul Islam Swadhin, the prime accused of a case filed in connection to the attack, vandalism, and looting of Hindu homes at Noagaon village in Sunamganj's Shalla upazila.

Sunamganj Senior Chief Judicial Magistrate Shyam Kanta Sinha granted the remand of Shahidul, along with 2-day remand for 29 other accused in the case, said Salim Nawaj, court inspector of Sunamganj police.

The case investigating officer had prayed for a 10-day remand for Shahidul and five-day remand for others.

Meanwhile, police arrested two more suspects in connection to the attack.

Shalla police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazmul Haque said police conducted a drive at Atgaon village in Shalla upazila earlier in the day and made the arrests.

He, however, did not disclose the identities of the arrestees to this correspondent.

The law enforcers have arrested 35 people so far after the incident of the attack, he said.

Earlier, two cases were filed with Shalla police station over the incident. One of the cases was lodged by police against 1,500 unidentified people while the other case, which named Swadhin as an instigator, was filed by Habibpur Union Parishad Chairman Vivekananda Majumder.

On March 15, Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junaid Babunagari, Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and other central leaders attended a conference in Derai upazila organized by the radical Islamic group.

Enraged by Mamunul Haque's speech at the conference, a young Hindu man from Noagaon village allegedly made a Facebook post on March 16 criticizing Mamunul, who earlier opposed the sculpture of Bangabandhu.

Mamunul's supporters brought out a procession in the area at night on March 16, accusing the Hindu man of hurting religious sentiments, according to OC Nazmul Haque. 

The Hindu man was detained the same night to calm the Hefazat supporters, he said. 

On March 17 morning, thousands of Mamunul's followers from Kashipur, Nachni, Chandipur and other villages inhabited by Muslims attacked Noagaon village with sticks and locally made weapons.

They ransacked Hindu houses and looted valuables as the residents fled the village, the police official added.