Hindu housholds, temple attacked in Bangladesh

An around 3,000-strong mob attacked Hindu households and a temple in Bangladesh's Comilla district, media reported Monday. The attacks took place Sunday after rumours were spread over loudspeakers that two youths had defamed Prophet Muhammad, bdnews24.com reported.

Locals and police said teachers and students of eight madrasas in Homna upazila led the assault on Hindus at Baghsitarampur village. Twenty-eight families have been affected in the attacks. A mob of nearly 3,000 carried out the attacks and looted belongings of the Hindus, most of whom were poor farmers and fishermen. Villagers said a call was made from the loudspeakers at Jamia Arabia Islami Emdadul Ulum Madrasa at Rampur village near Baghsitarampur to launch the attack on Hindus.

Before the assault, leaflets were distributed for the last several days in the madrasas claiming that two Hindu youths had slandered the prophet in a Facebook post April 27. Police arrested the principal of Bagmara Madrasa at Muradnaga in connection with the attacks. However, the main accused, Nazrul Islam, who took the lead in distributing the leaflets is still at large.