Police have filed a case against more than 2,000 unidentified people following a series of mob attacks, vandalism, and arson at four shrines in Homna Upazila on Thursday, triggered by allegations of blasphemy.

Confirming the matter to the media, Homna Police Station Sub-Inspector Tapas Kumar Sarkar—who lodged the case on Thursday night—said between 2,000 and 2,200 suspects have been listed as unidentified in the case.

The unrest broke out in Asadpur village after announcements were made over loudspeakers accusing a man of posting derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on Facebook. Crowds then vandalised and set fire to four shrines and torched three nearby houses.

Police later confirmed that the accused, 35-year-old Md Mohsin, son of Alek Shah of Fakirbari, had been arrested on charges of blasphemy. He was shown arrested in a case filed by Md Shariful Islam, organisational secretary of Bangladesh Islami Jubo Sena’s Homna unit, and produced before court on Thursday.

According to police, an enraged mob first targeted Mohsin’s house before attacking the shrine of Kofil Uddin Shah. They also set fire to houses on the shrine premises, damaging furniture and a motorcycle. The shrines of Abdu Shah, Kalai (Kanu) Shah, and Hawali Shah were also vandalised, with arson reported at one site.

Law enforcers, supported by Army personnel, rushed to the spot and managed to bring the situation under control.

Homna Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Rafiqul Islam told the media that additional forces have been deployed in Asadpur to prevent further unrest.

MN/