BDMW team visits Thakurpara, talk to Hindu victims, cops
Rangpur (Bangladesh), Nov 18: A fact finding team of Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) visited Thakurpara village of Gangachora Upzilla of Rangpur district to assess and ascertain the situation following reports of atrocities by Islamic zealots on the minority Hindus in that area.
The team comprising of Kamal Karmakar, Shyamol Banerjeem Jowtirmoy Banerjee, Dhananjoy Mohanta, Rajib Saha, Goutam Roym Dilip Kumar Ray and Adv. Rabindra Ghosh visited the spot on November 16and interacted with the Hindu people in Thakurpara.
A number of Hindu houses were allegedly set on fire, Hindu deities were desecrated and goods looted including the cows belonging to the Hindus on November 10, 2017 by the Islamic fanatics.
The perpetrators also set on fire a cow who sustained severe injuries. The wretched Hindu victims cried and made an appeal to BDMW for their protection of lives, properties, right to religion and dignity within Bangladesh.
The delegation found that 24 houses of the Hindus were destroyed and 16 cows were looted by the attackers. However, the police had recovered 14 of the cows from the possession of those perpetrators.
The terrified Hindu victims complained about inadequate compensation paid to them by the Deputy Commissioner. This was far from their needs and the loss they sustained, the team mentioned in its report.
The fact-finding team also found that two daughters of Titu Roy were abducted and forcefully converted to Islam by the local jihadis. One of the girls was rescued from the perpetrators but another girl was not rescued and she was still under the captivity of the abductors, the team said.
Titu Roy, who alleged posted some matter which sparked the violent reaction by the Islamic fundamentalist, has since been arrested and according to the SP Rangpur a case under section 52(2) of the IT Act has been slapped against him. When he was produced in the court, no one came forward to secure his release on bail, the SP said. However, the court granted him custody for four days.
The S.P. also informed the visiting team that more than 130 perpetrators identified and arrested, but the main instigator was not yet arrested by police. He also assured us that due to safety of Titu Roy they sent him into custody and investigation was going on.
The fact-finding team also met the Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur who said that a good number of tin sheds and some cash were provided to the victims after the unfortunate incident of attack on their houses on November 10.
The team members also tried to contact the accused Md. Zeenat Ali who is under custody of Gangachora Police Station but could not do so as the victim was not reached to the police station till their stay.
The team gathered some copies of FIRs filed against those who attacked the Hindu houses in Thakurpara on November 10. In one FIR 83 attackers were booked while in the other one 75 perpetrators were identified. Many more are still unidentified as yet.
Bangladesh Minority Watch is very much concerned about attack on Hindu minority, setting fire on their houses and religious places at Gangachora P.S. and Kotwali P.S due to alleged defamation of religion in the face book. They demanded the case started against Titu Roy should be withdrawn and be released forthwith.
The team alleged that the police totally failed to control the situation when thousands of activists of various Islamic organisations assembled after “Human Chain” was over. Finding no other alternative police saw situation gone beyond control then they fired on the mob and as a result one Md Habibur Rahman (Habib -28) succumbed to death and 25 others were injured.
Bangladesh Minority Watch is very much concerned about not arresting the instigators who resorted to violence against peace - loving Hindu people and, setting fire with religious motivation. The right of religion should be protected and be safeguarded for peaceful co-existence. The Minorities should be protected.