At least nine artistes were assaulted when a mob attacked a cultural programme featuring baul songs in Sirajganj on Friday night. Musical instruments, chairs and other valuables were also vandalised at the venue.

Sirajganj Baul Shilpi Goshthi organised the two-day event on the premises of Abdur Rouf town hall near Sirajganj Bazar station.

Talking to The Daily Star, Sanjib Kumar, president of the organisation, said they inaugurated the programme with songs and a discussion on Friday afternoon.

After the discussion, they resumed the cultural programme around 8:15pm, he said.

"A group of people suddenly got out from a local mosque and vandalised the venue, saying that we were making loud noises. Some nine artistes were also assaulted. Due to the sudden attack, we had to stop the cultural programme for the night."

"We are holding frequent programmes in Sirajganj maintaining rules. But this kind of incident never happened. As it is a cultural programme, we did not seek security from the police," said Sanjib.

They, however, were able to hold the programme yesterday amid police security. Officer-in-Charge of Sirajganj Police Station said this was not a planned attack. Blaming loud noise, a group of people got out of the mosque and vandalised the venue. "We are looking into the matter," he added.

No case was filed in this connection till the filing of this report in the evening.