Case filed over Biswa Ijtema killings; one arrested
December 21, 2024 00:00:00
Law-enforcers positioned on the Biswa Ijtema ground at Tongi in Gazipur on Friday to avert any untoward incident. — Focus Bangla
GAZIPUR, Dec 20 (UNB): A case has been filed in connection with violent clashes between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi over control of the venue, police said.
Maulana Zubair's follower M Alam Hossain filed the murder case against 29 people with Tongi West Police Station on Thursday evening, naming Syed Wasiful Islam as the main accused.
Iskander Habibur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tongi West Police Station, said Mufti Muaz bin Noor, a follower of Maulana Saad Kandlavi, was arrested in connection with the violent clashes on Thursday night.
He added that the police operation to apprehend other suspects is ongoing, but declined to provide further details about the accused to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Earlier, four people were killed and 40 others injured in a clash between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi early Wednesday.
The deceased included Amirul Islam Bachhu, 70, from Kishoreganj, Bilal Hossain, 60, from Faridpur, and Tajul Islam, 70, from Bogura. The identity of the fourth victim remains unknown.
According to Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), the violence erupted when followers of Maulana Saad attempted to enter the venue, prompting a counter-attack by supporters of Maulana Zubair around 3:00 am.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury warned that those responsible for the violence would be held accountable.