20 Hindu houses torched

At least 20 houses of Hindus were torched at a settlement on railway land in Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur early yesterday, creating panic in the area. The victims claimed the incident as an act of revenge against their protest against the misbehaviour of a youth during the Durga puja held last October. Police arrested one Jewel Rana, 23, in connection with the incident. Sohel Basfor, one of the victims, said he heard the sound of liquid being sprinkled and got the smell of petroleum substances. The house was set on fire almost immediately. He ran out of his home and alerted others as the fire spread rapidly. Junarobi Lal Basfor said the fire engulfed entire houses as the criminals set them alight after spraying petrol. “We managed to come out unhurt, but failed to save our belongings.”
Jahangir Alam Liton, member of ward no 7 of the Bochaganj municipality, said at least 20 houses were gutted causing damage of property worth Tk 50 lakh.  Firefighters from Bochaganj doused the flames around 5am. Locals of the area caught Jewel and handed over him to the local police. They claimed Jewel had masterminded the torching.
Munir Lal Basfor, leader the Harijan community, said that Jewel had an altercation with members of the Harijan community at the Durga puja pandal on October 10. “Since then, he had been threatening us with dire consequences,” said Munir. Habibur Islam, officer-in-charge of Bochaganj police station, said Jewel faced charges in different cases, including those of theft and bike-lifting. According to police, Jewel has no political links. But they are investigating whether any vested quarters had incited him to commit the act of arson, Islam said. Shilapodo Karmaker, upazila nirbahi officer of Bochanganj, said they took the incident seriously. Tins, rice, cash and blankets were distributed among the affected families yesterday afternoon. Moreover, the local administration arranged a relief camp for the affected people to house them until their homes were rebuilt, he added. One Royal Basfor filed a case with the Bochaganj police station, accusing Jewel and one Taslim of the Stationpara area in the upazila.

20 Hindu houses torched

At least 20 houses of Hindus were torched at a settlement on railway land in Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur early yesterday, creating panic in the area. The victims claimed the incident as an act of revenge against their protest against the misbehaviour of a youth during the Durga puja held last October. Police arrested one Jewel Rana, 23, in connection with the incident. Sohel Basfor, one of the victims, said he heard the sound of liquid being sprinkled and got the smell of petroleum substances. The house was set on fire almost immediately. He ran out of his home and alerted others as the fire spread rapidly. Junarobi Lal Basfor said the fire engulfed entire houses as the criminals set them alight after spraying petrol. We managed to come out unhurt, but failed to save our belongings. Jahangir Alam Liton, member of ward no 7 of the Bochaganj municipality, said at least 20 houses were gutted causing damage of property worth Tk 50 lakh. Firefighters from Bochaganj doused the flames around 5am. Locals of the area caught Jewel and handed over him to the local police. They claimed Jewel had masterminded the torching. Munir Lal Basfor, leader the Harijan community, said that Jewel had an altercation with members of the Harijan community at the Durga puja pandal on October 10. Since then, he had been threatening us with dire consequences, said Munir. Habibur Islam, officer-in-charge of Bochaganj police station, said Jewel faced charges in different cases, including those of theft and bike-lifting. According to police, Jewel has no political links. But they are investigating whether any vested quarters had incited him to commit the act of arson, Islam said. Shilapodo Karmaker, upazila nirbahi officer of Bochanganj, said they took the incident seriously. Tins, rice, cash and blankets were distributed among the affected families yesterday afternoon. Moreover, the local administration arranged a relief camp for the affected people to house them until their homes were rebuilt, he added. One Royal Basfor filed a case with the Bochaganj police station, accusing Jewel and one Taslim of the Stationpara area in the upazila.