Unknown criminals yesterday set eight houses of a Hindu family on fire in Thakurgaon.

The incident happened between 4:30am and 5:00am while residents of the houses were asleep, said Krisna Ghosh, one of the victims.

Although the family members escaped unhurt, the fire killed seven goats, destroyed sixty maunds of paddy and all the furniture of the houses, Krisna added.

The attackers first set a house on fire. Soon, it engulfed adjacent seven houses, the victim said.

Meanwhile, local Awami League and BNP leaders brought allegations against each other over the incident. They alleged that the attack was carried out for creating panic among the local Hindu community ahead of December 30 polls.

Local Awami League and BNP men blamed each other over the incident. Photo: Quamrul Islam Rubaiyat

Gonesh Ghosh, general secretary of Jagannathpur union unit Awami League, said BNP-Jamaat men were trying to create panic among the Hindu community so that they don't vote on December 30.

BNP-Jamaat men led by Mostafizur Rahman Liton, former chairman of Jagannathpur Unoin Parishad, vandalised an AL office in Sheikh Bazar area on Thursday. The arson attack was a continuation of the incident.

Refuting the allegations, Mirza Faisal Amin, general secretary of Thakurgaon BNP, said the AL men torched BNP leader Liton's motorbike and vandalised a local BNP office on Thursday.

Later, they vandalised their own office to put the blame on BNP, he alleged.

The arson attack on the Hindu community was also executed by the AL men with an aim to harass BNP leaders and activists, he added.

Abdullah Al Mamun, upazila nirbahi officer and assistant returning officer, told The Daily Star that they were investigating the matter and would take legal actions based on the proof.

Abu Taher Md Abdullah, assistant superintendent of police in Thakurgaon, also promised to take necessary actions after investigation.