Rajbari shrine attack: 8 accused confess in court

Police have so far arrested 24 individuals in two separate cases filed over the attack, vandalism, looting, arson, burning of corpse, murder, and assault on police at the shrine of Nurul Haque alias Nural Pagla in Goalanda, Rajbari.

Of them, eight accused have given confessional statements under Section 164 in court. Among the arrestees are two mosque imams and two local leaders of Chhatra League and Swechchhasebak League.

The matter was confirmed on Monday night (September 15) by Md Sharif Al Rajib, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime & Ops) of the district.

He said, “A total of 24 people have been arrested — eight in the case over the shrine attack, arson, looting, murder, and corpse burning, and 16 in the case over the attack on police and vandalism of police vehicles. Out of them, eight have confessed in court under Section 164. Operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused.”

Superintendent of Police Md Kamrul Islam said those involved in the attack on police and the exhumation of corpses are being arrested. He added that based on specific information, video footage, and primary evidence, the perpetrators are being brought under the law. He also warned that any attempt to influence the investigation or make unethical interventions will be dealt with legally.

Earlier, two separate cases were filed over the incidents of police vehicle vandalism, the shrine attack and looting, exhumation and burning of bodies, and murder. One case was filed on 8 September night by Amjad Mollah, father of the slain Russel Mollah. Earlier, on 5 September night, Sub-Inspector Selim Mollah of Goalanda Ghat Police Station filed another case accusing 3,000 to 3,500 unidentified people over the vandalism of police vehicles during the attack on Nural Pagla’s shrine. Altogether, the two cases list around 7,500 unidentified accused.