Jamaat-e-Islami behind torching Hindu houses: Bangladesh police

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) activists have torched the houses of Hindus in Bangladesh's Rangpur to create unrest ahead of the next parliamentary elections, confirmed police.

"Jamaat tried to fuel unrest as elections are nearing," Rangpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Mizanur Rahman told reporters, said a local newspaper recently.

The SP said: "Jamaat-Shibir carried out the attacks led by them. They are the instigators of the arson attacks, lootings of Hindu homes."

"They carried out the attack to create instability ahead of the 11th parliamentary election," he added.

Rahman said four people, responsible for instigating the attacks over rumours of an offensive Facebook status, have been identified and one has already been arrested.

The arrested accused has been identified as Khaleya union Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary and Shaleyashah Jam-e-Masjid Imam Sirajul Islam.

The SP said Sirajul along with others delivered provocative remarks at a human-chain programme before carrying out the attacks.

Meanwhile, Kotwali Police Station office in charge Babul Miah claims that a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was also involved in the incident.

The Bangladesh police raided the homes of three others on Friday night but were unable to catch them as they managed to fled.

At least 53 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack.

A three-member committee has been formed to look into the incident, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Wahiduzzaman was quoted by the Dhaka Tribune as saying.

The committee has been asked to file a report within seven days, the report said.