Madrasa teacher confesses to leading communal attacks in Hajiganj

Madrasa teacher Kamaluddin Abbasi has confessed to leading communal attacks on puja mandaps in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur on October 13.

Chandpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Kamal Uddin recorded his confessional statement on Thursday evening and sent him to jail, said police on Saturday.

Earlier, Abbasi was identified from CCTV footage and was later arrested from Hajiganj.

Abbasi was a lecturer of Arabic at Bholadighi Kamil Madrasa in Sharasti area and resident of Hajiganj upazila.

Principal of the madrasa Delwar Hossain said Abbasi was a follower of the peer of Furfura Sharif but he has no involvement with Jamaat. But detectives said Abbasi was an active member of Jamaat.

On October 13, five people died in a clash with police when a group of miscreants attacked Hajiganj Bazar temple in protest against desecration of the Holy Quran in Cumilla.

Officer-in-Charge of Hajiganj police station Harunur Rashid told UNB that police have filed two cases while eight complaints were lodged by the authorities of vandalized puja mandaps.

So far, 33 people, including Abbasi, have been arrested in these cases.

Around 250 named and another 2,500 anonymous people were made accused in these 10 cases, said the OC.

Superintendent of Police Milon Mahmud said those involved in the attack are being identified from CCTV footage collected from the cameras around the spots.