Dhaka: Amid protests by the minority community in Bangladesh against incidents of temple vandalism during Durga Puja celebrations last week, around 66 houses in the country were vandalized and at least 20 belonging to Hindus over alleged blasphemous social media posts. Houses were set on fire.
According to bdnews24.com, the arson attack took place in a village about 255 km from Dhaka late on Sunday, PTI reported.
Reading: Attacks on Durga Puja pandals ‘pre-planned by vested groups’, says Bangladesh home minister
District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamaruzzaman said police arrived at a fishermen’s colony after tensions mounted over a rumor that a young Hindu man from the village had “insulted religion” in a Facebook post, according to the report.
The report said the attackers set fire to other nearby houses as police were guarding the man’s house.
At least 29 residential houses, two kitchens, two barns and 20 hay stacks of 15 different people were torched in Majhipara by the fire service control room, according to its report from the spot.
The fire service control room said an “uncontrolled crowd” had been identified as the cause of the fire.
According to the report, the fire service got information about the fire at 8:45 pm and the fire was finally brought under control by 4:10 pm.
However, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
This comes amid rising communal tension over an alleged incident of blasphemy at a Durga Puja site in Kumila in Bangladesh’s Chittagong division, which led to attacks on Hindu temples and vandalism and clashes between police in Kumila, among other districts.
According to the report, dozens have been arrested for the attacks and spreading communal hatred on social media.
Meanwhile, the elite anti-crime force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two more people for looting and vandalizing Hindu community temples and shops in Feni, about 155 km from Dhaka.
Imran Khan, assistant director of the paramilitary’s legal and media wing, said, “He was arrested for indulging in communal violence and inciting people on social media.”
“They were handed over to the local police station,” he said.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier warned of strict action against those trying to disturb communal harmony in the country.
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