Case against Mamunul, 16 others: arrest after assessing their role in mayhem, police say

Police will go for arrest of Hefajat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and 16 others, who were sued in a case last night, after assessing their roles, police said.

"There are issues to go over, whether they were directly involved in the incident (violence), or acted as mastermind, instigator or financer. We will assess the issues in shortest possible time and arrest those found involved," Syed Nurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Motijheel Division Police, told reporters at his office. 

"The case was filed last night. We are determining their identities, locating their whereabouts, finding out their location on March 26 and their roles on that day," the DC said responding to a query.

Replying to another query, the DC said the complainant mentioned some of the accused's political identities and posts in Hefajat.

"We will identify those who carried out and led the violence. We will not consider their position. We will only consider whether they were involved or not," the police officer added.

Khandaker Arif-uz-Zaman, who identified himself as a businessman of Dhaka's Wari and deputy office secretary of Dhaka South Jubo League, filed the case against them with Paltan Police Station last night.

He brought charges of torching vehicles, vandalising shops and looting valuables, exploding crude bombs, firing gunshots near the capital's Baitul Mukarram National Mosque during Hefajat's demonstration on March 26, protesting visit of the Indian Prime Minister.

The clash in Dhaka ensued when Hefajat men brought out an anti-Modi demonstration from the north gate of the national mosque just after prayers.

Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), along with other ruling party men, who had taken position in nearby areas, threw brick chunks at the protesters and tried to push them back inside the mosque, witnesses said.

Police tried to bring the situation under control by firing tear gas canisters and rubber bullets.

Several motorbikes were burnt near the north and south gates of the national mosque.

More than 50 people were injured in the clash, according to witnesses and journalists.