DMP warns of risk of attacks during Durga Puja

Around 50 people suspected of involvement with extremist outfits have gone missing over the last month, increasing the risk of attacks during Durga Puja, police officials have warned.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been working on tracing them and their training places, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said on Thursday, while inspecting security arrangements at the Dhakeswari National Temple in the capital.

'We are hopeful we will trace out and catch them before they carry out any operations,' said Shafiqul.

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community is to begin on 1 October across the country. There are 242 puja mandaps in the capital and of those, five are the biggest and major mandaps, said DMP officials.

Law enforcement forces are bolstering security arrangements to curtail any threats to the festival celebrations.

DMP chief Shafiqul said steps are underway to place CCTV camera surveillance at the puja mandaps. Nearby places without any CCTV cameras will be under 24-hour surveillance by security forces.

The police commissioner said policemen and Ansar personnel will be deployed round the clock at all puja mandaps in the capital.

Shafiqul said there are two types of threats during Puja– extremist attacks and incitement of communal violence by spreading propaganda and rumours.

There have been attempts at inciting communal violence with rumour campaigns using fake social media accounts, he said.

Recalling the incident of the Holy Quran being placed at Nanua Dighir Par puja mandap in Cumilla last year, Shafiqul warned there might be similar attempts during this year's celebrations, too.

There were incidents of violence in various districts during the Durga puja celebrations last year. At least 142 cases were filed over the incidents.

According to police headquarters officials, the investigation of 105 cases is finished with 37 cases still remaining under investigation.