Case filed against 2,200 over mob attacks on shrines in Cumilla

Highlights

• 2,200 unidentified individuals sued over attacks on four shrines in Homna
• Police say atmosphere in the area remains tense, additional police deployed
• Violence erupted yesterday over Mohsin's remarks about Prophet (PBUH) on social media

Police have filed a case against 2,200 unidentified individuals over mob attacks, vandalism and arson at four shrines in Cumilla's Homna upazila, triggered by allegations of blasphemy.

Homna Police Station Sub-Inspector Tapas Kumar lodged the case last night (18 September), Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Rafiqul Islam confirmed today.

Rafiqul said the atmosphere in the area remains tense and that additional police have been deployed.

The attack, which began around 11am in Asadnagar village of Homna upazila, also targeted four other shrines in the area. Photo: Collected

Violence erupted yesterday over local resident Mohsin's alleged derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on social media.

Mob sets fire to Kofil Uddin Shah’s shrine in Cumilla, vandalises 4 others

An enraged crowd vandalised and set fire to the shrine of Mohsin's grandfather, Kafil Shah, as well as the family home. Three other shrines in the area were also damaged. 

Fire service personnel later arrived to control the blaze.

According to witnesses, in addition to Kafil Shah's shrine, the mob also attacked the shrines of Kalu Shah, Hawali Shah (Babul) and Abdu Shah. 

Police and army personnel were deployed after the incident. Photo: Collected

Police, army personnel, and local administrators rushed to the scene, with Superintendent of Police Nazir Ahmed Khan, Senior ASP (Homna Circle) Abdul Karim, ASP (Daudkandi Circle) Md Faisal Tanvir and UNO Khemalika Chakma speaking to locals and urging them not to take the law into their own hands.

On Wednesday (17 September), Mohsin, son of Alek Shah of Asadpur union, allegedly made derogatory remarks about Prophet (PBUH) on social media, raising a furore.  

The shrine of Kofil Uddin Shah before. Photo: Collected

Police arrested him that day and sent him to Cumilla District Jail through a court order. 

Additionally, Bangladesh Islami Jubo Sena's Homna unit organisational secretary, Md Shariful Islam, filed a case against Mohsin at Homna Police Station.