Thakurpara Mayhem: Accused ‘Facebook user’ held

Tito Chandra Roy, an accused in a case filed for allegedly making a post on Facebook that sparked mayhem in Thakurpara village of Rangpur, was arrested in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district early today.

A man was killed and 20 others were hurt after police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells as violence flared up in the village on November 10 over the alleged Facebook post “demeaning Islam”.

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Sirajul Islam, an Imam of a mosque of a nearby village, and Alamgir Hossain, a trader, filed the case against Tito with Gangachara Police Station, accusing him of making a post on Facebook that hurt religious sentiments of Muslims.

A special team of Rangpur police arrested Tito from a relative’s house at Chirviza Golna village in Jaldhaka around 4:00am today, our local correspondent reports quoting Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jaldhaka Police Station. 

Around 60 people had been arrested until yesterday, said Zinnat Ali, officer-in-charge of Gangachara Police Station. A case was also filed with the police station accusing 2,000 people on Saturday.

Ziton Bala, mother of Tito Chandra Roy, said, “My son's name is Tito; people are telling me his name is Titu and it's not true.”

Tito has been away from home for the last four years. He did not maintain contacts with his family members since he left home, said villagers.

He last visited his home seven months ago but left soon after. Since then, he has been traceless.   

The Daily Star correspondent obtained a mobile phone number which was used for opening the Facebook ID around two months ago. The phone number was found unused and police could not verify who the number was registered to. 

The owner of the Facebook account generally shared posts or uploaded screenshots of others' posts.

The Hindus of Thakurpara village are still in panic. Most are preferring to stay inside the village. They are having their meals at Brahmanpara Government Primary School.