Rangpur Mayhem: 2 UP members arrested

Two union parishad members were arrested late Thursday night for their alleged involvement in the attack on Hindus of Thakurpara village in Rangpur on November 10.

The arrestees are: Fazlul Haque and Joynul Abedin, members of ward-1 and -3 of Mominpur union parishad.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The police have so far arrested 161 people in connection with the mayhem.

Shariful Islam, officer-in-charge of Directive Branch (North) of police in Rangpur, said police arrested the two during a raid at Mominpur and that they were being interrogated.

On November 10, hundreds of people attacked Thakurpara village, a Hindu-dominated area, and torched 11 houses and looted and vandalised nine others.

The attack was carried out following a Facebook post that allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslims.

There was a rumour that on November 4 Titu Chandra Roy, 40, of Thakurpara posted an image “demeaning the Prophet” on his Facebook page.

On November 6, a case was filed with Gangachara Police Station accusing the Hindu man of insulting Islam.

The case was referred to Rangpur DB, said police.

Police arrested Titu at Chiravija of Nilphamari's Jaldhaka on Tuesday. He was placed on a four-day remand.