Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a press briefing on Saturday disclosed that the attack on Hindu community in Rangpur's Pirganj was totally pre-planned.
The elite force made the statement a day after the arrest of the masterminds behind the attack - Saikat Mandal and his associate Robiul Islam.
RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin told journalists that arrested Saikat used to make provocative posts on Facebook regularly. After the Cumilla incident, he made another post on Facebook. The controversial post reached around 3,000 followers on social media inciting violence. He asked Rabiul to use a loudspeaker to make a provoking speech and gather a mob. After the attack, he went into hiding.
According to the RAB officials, prior to the attack and arson, Robiul provoked the villagers with various lies and rumours through loudspeaker and asked them to gather to take part in the attack. He then gave the responsibility of miking to one of his reliable cohorts and led the attack on the Hindu community. Later, he fled the scene.
Read More: Outsiders also took part in Pirganj attack: Shirin Sharmin
Legal actions against them are underway, the RAB official added.
Earlier on Friday night, RAB personnel arrested Saikat and Robiul during a drive in Tongi, Gazipur.
Three cases have been filed in connection to the attack so far.
According to the local sources, on October 17, Paritosh of Bara Karimpur Majhipara village under Pirganj upazila reportedly uploaded an insulting picture of the Holy Kaaba Sharif on Facebook which went viral on social media.
Later, an angry mob attacked the Hindus of the area and burned down many houses. Over 60 families were affected during the attack.
Victims claimed that 135 houses were vandalised and 18 houses were blazed on the day of the incident. Cattle, cash, jewellery and other valuables were looted.
Police arrested at least 56 people so far in this connection.
Paritosh Roy, whose alleged Facebook post triggered the attack, was also arrested from neighbouring district Joypurhat after the incident
