JMB man involved in both incidents

Shariful Islam, who was caught red handed during the ISKCON temple attack in Dinajpur on December 10, has confessed his involvement in the mid-November shooting of Italian Pastor Piero Parolari, according to a local police official. 

He made the confessional statement before the chief judicial magistrate court on Thursday, said Redwanur Rahim, officer-in-charge of detective branch of Dinajpur police.

Shariful, an operative of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), confessed that he was among the three people who carried out the gun attack on Parolari near the BRTC bus terminal in Dinajpur town early November 18, the official said yesterday.

Shot in the back of his head, Parolari narrowly escaped death. 

OC Redwanur Rahim, however, did not say whether Shariful, in his deposition, named the two other attackers or say exactly which one of the three fired at the pastor.

The official also did not say if the accused in the statement mentioned any reason behind the attack. But according to police sources, it was found in the probe that the motive was to tarnish the country's image before the international community and create anarchy.

Shariful was taken on a 10 day remand in two phases to interrogate in connection with the attack on ISKCON temple in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur on December 10. After the gun attack, which left two people injured, locals caught Shariful with crude bombs.  

Police said Shariful, son of Sakhawat Hossain of Monoharpur village under Palashbari upazila of Gaibandha, remained out of reach for eight months with family members before his detention.

The next day of the temple attack, locals of Singra Shalbagan area under Birganj upazila of Dinajpur caught Shariful's accomplice Mosabberul Alam with an AK 22 rifle while he was trying to flee the area.

A local of the area was injured as Mosabberul fired gunshots on the villagers during a chase.

Mosabberul is now on a 10 day remand, said police.

Earlier on December 12, Md Humayun Kabir, deputy inspector general of Rangpur Range, at a press briefing said the men who carried out the attacks in Dinajpur since November 18 were involved with JMB.