Pabna, June 24 (V7N) — Seven families in the village of Briddho Morich in Pabna’s Bhangoora upazila have been left destitute after a violent mob attacked them on June 10, suspecting their involvement in the murder of a local night guard. Ten homes were vandalized, looted, and set ablaze in a premeditated assault that has forced the victims to live under the open sky for two weeks, with little food and no shelter.

The incident followed the murder of Osman Gani Molla, 62, a night guard at Chondipur Sikevi Alim Madrasa and muezzin at the local mosque. Reports reveal that two teenagers, Habib (14) and Ahmad Ullah (15), later confessed to killing Gani over a dispute related to money for drugs. Police arrested the boys, and their confessions under Section 164 confirmed their guilt. Prior to this, however, local resident Shahadat Hossain was detained on suspicion but later released.

Despite Shahadat’s release, local residents, reportedly incited by a public announcement from one Sayeedur Rahman over mosque loudspeakers, attacked his household and those of his siblings. The attackers looted valuables including cash, gold ornaments, livestock, rice, and household goods before setting fire to the homes.

The affected families—those of Rabibul Karim, Abdur Rahim, Nurul Islam, Abdus Sobahan, Saddam Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, and Laily Khatun—estimate their total loss at around Tk 1 crore. Some of the victims, including Nurul, Sobahan, and Saddam, are migrant workers currently based in Malaysia.

Rabibul Karim filed a case on June 18 naming 13 individuals and accusing 30–35 unidentified attackers. Police have since arrested three men: Sayeedur Rahman, Anwar Hossain, and Shahin Hossain. Law enforcement say operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Victim families say they have been surviving with minimal help—some dry food, one bundle of tin sheets, and Tk 6,000 per household, provided by local authorities. They spend their days near the ruins of their homes and nights scattered across different houses, relying on the charity of others.

Laily Khatun, sister of Shahadat Hossain, said, “My brother was innocent, and yet they destroyed everything. Now that the real killers have confessed, who will compensate us?”

Abdur Rahim’s wife, Sabina Khatun, described the attack: “They used loudspeakers to call for our homes to be burned. Then people arrived with weapons, looted everything, and set fire to the houses. We couldn’t even eat the breakfast we had just cooked.”

Bhangoora police station’s Officer-in-Charge, Md. Shafiqul Islam, confirmed the arrests and stated that the attackers would be brought to justice. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nazmun Nahar said that further support may be provided in the new fiscal year.

The families have appealed to the government, humanitarian groups, and the public for help to rebuild their lives. Aid can be coordinated through Rabibul Karim at 01736-677210.

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