Saltha violence: Two probe reports submitted, assets worth Tk3 cr damaged
After the reports, Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar said added steps would be taken
Two probe committees of the Faridpur district administration, investigating the recent violence in Saltha upazila, submitted their reports to the deputy commissioner and district magistrate on Sunday.
According to the reports, assets worth about Tk3 crore were damaged in vandalism and arson attacks on various government offices in Saltha.
Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar confirmed that he received the investigation reports and further steps would be taken in this regard.
On 5 April, an angry mob spread rumours, vandalizing and looting various government offices in Saltha. They set fire to the cars of the UNO and the assistant commissioner there.
A six-member committee was formed to determine the extent of the damage caused by the attack, and another nine-member committee was formed to gather detailed information to determine the particular incidents of violence, how they spread, and what caused them.
The committee formed and led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Aslam Ali Mollah, submitted a report to Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar.
Officials, wishing anonymity, said the investigation revealed a total of Tk 3 crore was lost in the Saltha violence. Of that loss, the two vehicles of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the AC Land, set on fire in the attack on that day, amounted to around Tk1.48 crore.
A source at the Upazila Agriculture Office, wishing to remain unnamed, said they lost about Tk4.28 lakh in the attack. This includes a motorcycle worth Tk1.22 lakh, and Thai windows worth Tk1.22 lakh.
Another committee headed by Additional District Magistrate Taslima Ali, submitted its report on Sunday, to both Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar and the District Magistrate.
However, Taslima Ali heading the probe body, said she was not at liberty to talk about the investigation's findings.
The police have so far arrested 60 people against the cases filed for the violence. Of the arrested, 54 were produced in court, with 47 remanded.
On the evening of 5 April, Marufa Sultana Khan Hiramani, AC Land, visited Fukra Bazar in Sonapur Union of the upazila on a lockdown inspection operation.
At that time, tension erupted when people refused to abide by lockdown rules. When the police came, the angry mob torched two government vehicles and vandalised various government establishments, including Saltha police station, the land and upazila parishad offices, the residences of the UNO and the upazila chairman, and the Muktijoddha complex.
Following the violence, five cases were filed with Saltha police station in this connection, accusing 3000 to 4000 people. Of them, the names of 261 suspects have been mentioned in these cases.
