Bangladeshi engineer says he incited people to burn down Hindu homes

A government engineer in Bangladesh has confessed to inciting crowds to burning down homes of Hindus. He said that he incited the people to attack Hindu homes in Rangpur after rumours that a youth from minority community has published a blasphemous Facebook status, according to a media report.

A mob of around 20,000 protesters, from six to seven neighbouring villages, had gathered and set on fire at least 30 houses of Hindus in Thakurpara in Rangpur district, about 300 km from here, on November 10, the bdnews24.com reported.

One person was killed while five others were injured when police fired rubber bullets and lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

Fazlar Rahman, a resident of village Mominpur adjacent to Thakurpara, is one of the five accused who allegedly incited thousands of Muslims to attack the homes and businesses of Hindus, Gangacharha Police Station Sub-Inspector Mister Ali was quoted as saying in the report.

Rahman, who is a sub-assistant engineer of Rangpur District Council, had gone into hiding after the incident but was arrested from Shyamoli area here on December 21.

He was questioned by the police for 12 days before being produced before the court yesterday, the official said.

"Rahman gave a confessional statement before the Rangpur senior judicial magistrate's court," Ali said.

OneIndia News