Baul singers come under attack in Thakurgaon; 4 injured
Police said legal action would be taken if a formal complaint is filed
Four Baul singers were injured after a group of people attacked them in front of a tea stall on the Thakurgaon District Court premises today (26 November) amid a gathering in protest against the arrest of Abul Sarkar Moharaj.
Police said the identities of the attackers were yet to be confirmed.
The injured have been identified as Mokles, Alamin Hossain, Babul Baul, and Sanwar Hossain.
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Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sarwar Alam Khan said police had been deployed at the nearby intersection to prevent any unrest centring the Bauls' programme.
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"The incident occurred when a few Bauls were isolated inside the court premises. Police later brought the situation under control," he said, adding that legal action would be taken if a formal complaint is filed.
According to local sources, Baul devotees from various upazilas had begun gathering at the court area ahead of a protest rally scheduled for 2:30pm under the banner of "Sampritir Oikya". The rally had been announced on social media to demand the release of Baul singer Abul Sarkar Moharaj, who was recently arrested on charge of "hurting religious sentiments."
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Eyewitnesses said a group of men suddenly approached the Bauls and launched an attack, forcing the devotees to scatter in fear.
Witness Mahbub Alam Rubel said several Bauls took shelter inside the District Bar Association building, but the attackers attempted to break in with sticks while chanting "Naraye Takbir, Allahu Akbar."
Rubel described the attack inside a secured zone like the court premises as "a threat to national security," and demanded immediate arrests of the attackers.
Earlier on 23 November, at least four people, including three followers of Baul Abul Sarkar Moharaj, were injured after clashes broke out in Manikganj over rival programmes announced by two groups in the wake of the singer's arrest over allegations of hurting religious sentiment.
The incident occurred in the town's Dakkhin Seota area when a group of people, rallying under the banner of "Allama-Olama O Touhidi Janata of Manikganj", confronted Abul's supporters, who had also organised a human chain demanding his release.
