Priest killing: 3 more 'JMB men' held in Panchagarh

Police claimed to have arrested three members of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) during a raid in connection with the attack at a Hindu temple where a priest was killed in Panchagarh five days ago.  

Two firearms, two crude bombs, one grenade, five bullets and sharp weapons were seized from the house of one Haris Ali at Kalirdanga village in Debiganj upazila, said Humayun Kabir, deputy inspector general of police (Rangpur range) at a press briefing today.

With the detainees, six persons have been arrested in connection with the killing case so far, the police official said.

“We arrested them during an overnight raid,” DIG Humayun said adding that police are trying to arrest two others who are also involved in the incident. He refused to disclose the names of the three JMB men who are arrested today until further investigation.

“The detainees used the weapons we have seized in the temple attack mission,” he added.  

READ MORE: Priest killed, devotee shot

Criminals slit the throat of a Hindu priest at a temple in Debiganj of Panchagarh just after dawn on February 21 and fled the scene firing shots and exploding homemade bombs, which injured two devotees.

The firearms, bullets and sharp weapons are seized from possession of the JMB men who are detained on Thursday, February 25, 2016, police say. Photo: STAR

The deceased Jogeswar Dasadhikari, 50, was the priest of Sri Sri Shonto Gaurio temple of Shonapota in Panchagarh.

With the killing of Jogeswar, at least three clerics were attacked in last five months across the country.

Pastor Luke Sarker of Pabna and Italian Pastor Piero Parolari, who lives in Dinajpur, were attacked in their homes on October 5 and November 18 last year.