Police have arrested 43 people for inciting assault and vandalism at various Hindu temples in Cumilla, said Anwar Hossain, deputy inspector general (DIG) of the Chattogram Range police.
“To date, 43 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the main suspect Fayez Ahmed. For every incident in the city of Cumilla, cases are filed and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said. DIG Anwar Hossain said investigators are reviewing security camera footage to identify the perpetrators of the incidents and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
He said that the police were on alert in areas outside of Cumilla where violence had also occurred and cases were being prepared for any incidents.
The incident is part of a plan to provoke tensions, he said, after visiting the Comilla temple, which on Wednesday became the center of a social media storm over allegations of insulting the Holy Quran.
Police have arrested Fayez Uddin, who initially posted the video on social media, and is questioning him for information, which will be cross-checked.
Additional security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incidents, he added before adding, “The law and order situation in the area remains calm.”
At the directive of Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, the probe body was formed on Wednesday night with additional district magistrate Sayedul Arefin as head and additional police super (Crime) M Tanveer Ahmed and Cumilla Sadar upazila nirbahi officer Zakia Afrin as members. The committee was asked to submit their findings by next three working days.
Meanwhile, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, whip of Jatiya Sangsad and organising secretary of Awami League central committee, visited the Nanuar Dighir Uttarpar Puja Mandap early Thursday afternoon.
On the other hand, a delegation of Awami League visited different puja mandaps in Cumilla. AL finance and planning secretary Wasika Asha Khan MP, Information and Research secretary Dr Selim Mahmud MP, Cumilla Reserved seat for women MP Anjum Sultana Seema, Chattogram Range’s DIG Anwar Hossain, Additional DIG Zakir Hossain, Cumilla district police super Faruque Ahmed, Cumilla City AL general secretary Arfanul Huque Rifat, Local; Government deputy director Shawkat Osman and Cumilla City Jubo League convener Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahid, among others.
Besides, police, RAB and BGB personnel have been working to provide security and maintain normal atmosphere at different puja mandaps in Cumilla town.
