RANGPUR, Oct 18, 2021 (BSS) - Police arrested 52 assumed suspects of the
overnight arson attack on Hindu households in Pirganj upazila here saying
manhunt was underway for more while paramilitary BGB and elite anti-crime RAB
forces were called out to maintain order in the area.

     "We are conducting a combing operation in collaboration with BGB and RAB
personnel to track down the remaining culprits who were involved in the arson
attack last night," Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirganj Thana Saresh Chandra
said.

     He said 52 suspects were arrested so far while paramilitary Border Guard
Bangladesh (BGB) and elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) joined
hands with police to enforce a security vigil in the affected area.

     Earlier,  several hundred people raided a Hindu inhibited village and set
ablaze and ransacked dozens of houses following a controversial status on social media in
  a Facebook post.

     Fire fighters immediately rushed to the scene along with the security
forces which could save dozens of houses and several others were burnt.

     Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the
attackers and looters and brought the situation under control at 12:30
midnight last night.

     Rangpur's Deputy Commissioner Md Asib Ahsan, Police Super (SP) Biplob
Kumar Sarker, RAB-13 Commanding Officer Reza Ahmed Ferdous, Mayor of Pirganj
and upazila Awami League (AL) General Secretary Tazimul Islam Shamim and
Pirganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Biroda Rani Roy visited the scene in
the midnight.

    The Deputy Commissioner, police super and the UNO stayed there overnight
and distributed cooked foods among the affected villagers this morning.

     Divisional Commissioner Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan, Deputy Inspector General
for Rangpur Range Police Devdas Bhattacharya, senior officials of BGB and
RAB-13 today visited the spot, talked to the affected villagers and
distributed relief goods among them.

     Pirganj upazila administration has already distributed foods, clothes
and other support to the affected people of Majhipara village where 66 houses
were damaged, including 18 burnt to ashes.

     Pirganj upazila AL also distributed Taka 60,000 among 30 affected
families of the village, with Taka 2,000 each, today.

     While distributing foods in the village, the Divisional Commissioner
said the government would take all necessary steps to stand beside the
affected people of village Majhipara.

    "The government has already allocated 100 bundles of corrugated iron
sheets. The damaged houses will be rebuilt or repaired," he said, adding that
cattle heads will also be distributed among the families who lost those.

     The Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range Police said each and
everyone involved in the crimes committed in village Majhipara would be
searched out and brought under the law of the land.

     "The criminals will get exemplary punishments so that none would dare to
commit similar crimes anywhere across the country in future," he added.

     The SP said none of the criminals involved in the arson attacks,
lootings and damaging houses would be spared. The situation is now under full
control.

     The Deputy Commissioner said, "Saree, Lungi, blankets and dry foods were
distributed today among the affected people. Later, they will get corrugated
iron sheets, rice and cash money. Every criminal will be brought under the
law."