One of the instigators of November 4 attack on Hindu families in a Lalmonirhat village was arrested Friday night, claim police.
After the round-up, anonymous callers issued fresh threats to the community over the phone.
On information, police arrested Hamidul Islam from his residence at Satpatki village in Mohendranagar union of Lalmonirhat Sadar.
Hamidul was one of the main instigators of the attack, police said.
Though Hamidul was not directly involved in BNP politics, he was a supporter of the party, said Abdul Mazid, BNP general secretary of the union.
On November 4, a gang of local miscreants led by Shaon Islam, the mastermind behind the attack, stormed at least forty Hindu households in the village, and vandalised and looted four of them, leaving at least 15 people, including six women, injured.
The attack was carried out as the local Hindus refused to pay toll, police and the locals said.
The locals said Hamidul and his men used to collect toll from them by issuing threats.
The perpetrators went into hiding after a case was filed with Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station on the same night, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Asaduzzaman, also investigation officer (IO) of the case.
Since then police have been after the criminals, he added.
Meanwhile, the local Hindus said, they were receiving threats over the phone after Hamidul’s arrest.
Nikhil Chandra Roy, the plaintiff of the case, said: “I have been receiving life threat from unknown persons over the phone after Hamidul’s arrest since Friday night. I have been warned of dire consequences if I don’t withdraw the case immediately.”
Police had been informed of the threat, he added.
The IO said they would ensure security of the Hindus in the village.
