All seven key accused still on the loose

It has been eight years since Hindus in Bonogram of Pabna's Santhia upazila came under attack, but all the seven individuals who were made key accused in three cases continue to elude capture while two of the cases still await trial.

On November 2, 2013, religious zealots vandalised, looted and set fire to houses, shops and Hindu temples in the predominantly Hindu village, claiming that a resident of the village defamed Islam by his post on Facebook.

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Following the incident, three separate cases were filed against dozens of attackers, mentioning names of seven as key accused.

All the seven key accused including prime accused Khokon Mia, son of Motiar Mia, are still on the run.

Till date, the trials in the cases are yet to begin while police finished submitting charge sheets for all three cases.

Advocate Abdus Samad Khan Ratan, public prosecutor (PP) at Pabna court, said, "Total 97 people were accused in the charge sheets. Seven among them, including key accused Md Khokon Mia, went into hiding."

Of the three cases, the trial of attack on police has already begun and the trial of the other two cases are being delayed as the cases are being handled at a regular court, he said.

The process of issuing arrest warrants for the absconded is underway, but various other steps need to be followed before the trials can start, the PP said, adding that circulars would need to be published in newspapers declaring seizure of wealth of the absconded, in case they fail to appear before the court.

The primary target of attack on November 2 was the house of Rajib Saha, son of Bablu Saha, as Rajib supposedly made the defamatory post on his Facebook. Despite protesting repeatedly that his son was innocent, Babul was hit and kicked upon mercilessly and their house was torched.

Rajib's mother Shibani Saha said her son was lucky to have escaped the attack that day and he has not been able to come home ever since.

"Thinking of that day makes my eyes water. But it's more painful to watch the attackers roaming freely before us, evading punishment."

Rajib's father Bablu said he heard that Khokon Mia has been living in France.

School teacher Sukumar Bishwas was among the victims of the attack that day. He said, "Never before did we imagine of such attack. I want to forget the incident, but I'm still carrying the pain. It would be at least a consolation for us if the criminals were punished." 

Contacted, Ataikula Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jalal Uddin said they arrested "most of the accused" and according to their information, Khokon left the country following the incident.