Police have arrested four more individuals in connection with the attack on law enforcers and vandalism of vehicles at the shrine of Nurul Haque, popularly known as Nural Pagla, in Goaland upazila of Rajbari district, bringing the total number of arrests to 11.
The arrests were confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Md Sharif Al Rajib. According to local sources, at least two of the detainees are reportedly linked to the Awami League.
The newly arrested individuals are Jibon Sardar, 22, from New Para (Malla Patti) area of Goaland, Saiful Islam Shubho, 17, from Shaker Fakir Para in Malla Patti, Mohammad Ferdous Sardar, 36, from Faridpur district, and Billu, son of Salam from Adarsha village under Ward 7 of Goaland municipality.
Earlier, police had detained Shafin Sardar, 18, from Dewan Para village; Masud Mridha, vice-president of the local Chhatra League unit in Ujanchar Union; Hiru Mridha, general secretary of the Upazila Swechchhasebak League; Enamul Haque Jony, 32, from Dewan Para; Kazi Apu, 25, from Kazi Para in Ward 7 of Goaland municipality; and Hayat Ali Mridha, 29, from Dirajtullah Mridha Dangi village.
According to ASP Sharif, a case has been filed against approximately 3,500 unnamed individuals over the attack on police personnel and the destruction of government vehicles.
The four latest arrests were made during police raids early Monday. Of the 11 detainees so far, six were sent to jail by court order on Monday. One of the accused has reportedly given a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The violent incident occurred last Friday afternoon when a mob stormed the shrine of Nural Pagla in protest. As police intervened to bring the situation under control, they were attacked and police vehicles were vandalised. The mob then ransacked and set fire to the shrine before exhuming and burning Nural Pagla’s remains.
