Eight houses belonging to the main accused in the murder cases of shooter Mannan and Hriyd Bag—Lalu, Soikot, and their relative were set ablaze by rival groups in Gazaria
The incident took place on Sunday at around 8 p.m. in Hoglakandi village under Imampur Union. On receiving the news, four units of Gazaria Fire Service rushed to the spot and began fire control operations.
According to eyewitnesses, on July 28 at around 10 a.m., top Gazaria gangster shooter Mannan was killed in a gun attack carried out by rival Lalu-Piyas group in the Borokalipura area of the Meghna River. At least six others, including Hriyd Bag, were injured. Hriyd, who was critically injured, remained under treatment at the ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for 19 days, before succumbing to his injuries on Saturday afternoon (August 16).
Later on Sunday (August 17) afternoon, he was buried at the local graveyard following his funeral prayer. A few hours after the burial, Hriyd Bag’s supporters set fire to eight houses belonging to murder case accused Lalu, Soikot, and their family members. Fire service personnel then rushed to the spot and worked to bring the blaze under control.
Local UP member and relative of the deceased, Amirul Islam, said: “Lalu is a notorious criminal. The locals have long been fed up with his oppression. He is the mastermind behind the killings of Mannan and Hriyd Bag. The people were outraged against him.”
Gazaria Fire Service In-charge Mohammad Ali said: “Eight houses were set on fire. Of them, five were completely gutted while three were partially damaged. Four units of the fire service worked to douse the blaze.”
Accused Lalu’s mother, Sanowara Begum, claimed: “The attackers poured petrol and set fire to eight houses—including those of Lalu, his elder brother Sanaullah, Saifullah, younger brother Hemayetullah, and father-in-law Zahirul Islam. Before the fire service arrived, everything had already turned into ashes. They created a mob and tried to burn our people alive.”
IGazaria Police Station OC Md. Anwar Alam Azad said, police visited the spot upon receiving information. The matter has been reported to the army.
