A human chain in Dinajpur protesting attack on Hindus at Kornai village
Hindus of Kornai village in the northern district of Dinajpur are spending sleepless chilly nights under the open sky after their houses were razed in post-poll communal violence.
The northern part of the country usually faces biting cold. But it was not the cold that has kept the villagers on tenterhooks.
Kornai of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila is one of the villages affected in communal attacks after the 10th parliamentary polls.
Houses and shops of the Hindus here were torched, ransacked and looted. The residents were forced to escape their houses after the attacks. They later returned to their homes only to find nothing there was like before.
They are now struggling to rebuild their houses from the trail of debris.
“Many including the government officials are reassuring us, but we are yet to overcome the fear,” one of the victims Putul Rani said.
A temporary police camp has been set up and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel are patrolling there round the clock but nothing is enough to reassure them or to relieve their pain.
Like Putul, Anjali Rani and Jamini Rani are also yet to recover from the horror of the attack.
The residents were seen busy repairing their gutted houses and shops on Thursday.
Jagat Chandra, Ratan Chandra and Liton Roy said they had no idea when they would be able to resume their business.
The attack on their shops and business establishments has deprived them of their income, adding to their miseries.
Local social worker Rezaul Karim Raqi has distributed around 200 blankets and food among the affected people under public and private initiative.
Many organizations are also coming forward to extend their help.
More than 100 houses and shops were vandalized, torched and looted at Saha Parha, Pritom Parha, Prafulla Parha, Teli Parha, Boidya Parha, Hazi Parha and Ajoy Parha in Kornai village during the three-hour long attack on the night of polling day.
The victims alleged they had not got any response from the law enforcers even after informing them of the attack immediately after it was launched.
The victims said the Jamaat-Shibir activists had committed the atrocities for casting votes.
The ruling Awami League leaders also expressed similar view.
However, the BNP-Jamaat opposition alliance that boycotted the polls had denied their involvement in the attack.
Kotwali Police Station OC Altaf Hossain said 19 people had so far been arrested for their involvement in the attack.
Homeless Hindus of Kornai village after the rampage and arson
Houses at Kornai village gutted in fire set by miscreants
They had been sent to jail as they were charged with carrying out the attack.
Dinajpur Superintendent of Police Ruhul Amin said the security personnel were continuing a drive to nab the criminals.
Patrolling has been strengthened in the area even after setting up of the temporary police camp.
Source: Bd news24