Another suspect held over attack on Hindus in Sunamganj

Police have detained another suspect in connection with the attack, vandalism, and looting of Hindu homes at Noagaon village in Sunamganj's Shalla upazila.

Ershad Mia, 45, a resident of Kashipur village of the upazila, was held in the early hours of Saturday, said Shalla police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nur-e Alam.

As many as 39 people, including Ershad, have been arrested so far after the incident, he said.

Earlier, two separate cases were filed on March 18 accusing hundreds of people in connection with the attack allegedly carried out by the Hefazat-e-Islam supporters.

One of the cases was lodged by the police, accusing some 1,500 unnamed people, and the other by Habibpur Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Vivekananda Majumder against 50 named and around 1,500 unnamed persons.

OC Nur-e Alam said Ershad was named as an accused in the case filed by the UP chairman.

Also Read - Attack on Sunamganj Hindus: 89 houses, 8 temples damaged

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

Enraged by Mamunul Haque's speech at the conference, Jhuman Das Apan, of 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, police said. 

Jhuman was detained the same night to calm the Hefazat supporters. 

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.

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

They damaged 89 houses, eight temples and looted valuables as the residents fled the village.

Meanwhile, Shalla police started a case against Jhuman Das on March 25 under the Digital Security Act.

In another development, Jhuman's mother filed a case with the Sunamganj Judicial Magistrate Court on April 1 against 72 people on charges of vandalism.

Shahidul Islam Swadhin, an inhabitant of Nachni village in Derai upazila, was sued as the prime accused in the case.

A member of Ward 5 under Sarmangal Union Parishad in Derai, Swadhin was also made the key accused in another case filed by the UP Chairman Vivekananda Majumder.

President of the Ward 5 unit Jubo League, Swadhin was already put-on remand for interrogation by the law enforcers after his arrest in Moulvibazar on March 20.