133 sectarian violence incidents in 3 months: BHBCUC

In a press release signed by the council’s acting general secretary Monindra Kumar Nath, it was stated that between January 1 and March 31, 133 communal violence incidents were reported in the media. These included 25 killings, 4 cases of rape or other violence against women, 35 attacks on temples and looting, and 69 other incidents, including assaults on various indigenous and ethnic communities in the hills and plains. According to the release, January saw 46 incidents, including 11 killings, one rape, nine temple attacks, one attack on ethnic communities, 15 cases of assault, robbery, arson, threats, and looting of homes and businesses, three land grab incidents, one extortion case, and five other incidents. In February, there were 50 incidents, comprising eight killings, one rape, 15 temple attacks, one case of religious desecration, 17 cases of assault, robbery, arson, threats, and looting, six land grabs, one abduction, and one other incident. March recorded 37 incidents, including six killings, two cases of rape or sexual harassment, 11 temple attacks, one religious desecration, one attack on ethnic communities, seven cases of assault, robbery, arson, threats, and looting, four land grabs, and five other incidents. The council noted that it had hoped such attacks would decline following the formation of the BNP-led government. However, the persistence of these incidents has left minority communities anxious and concerned. The council called for the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible, compensation for victims, proper medical care for the injured, enactment of minority protection laws, and the establishment of a minority ministry and national minority commission, among other eight demands.