Father and son detained; plaintiff and a witness not eyewitnesses themselves

Police have detained a salon owner father and his son in the Goshla Bazar area of Lalmonirhat on charges of insulting Islam. The two were arrested in a case filed by the imam of a local mosque over allegations of religious defamation. However, both the plaintiff and a witness admitted that neither of them was an eyewitness to the incident. The family claims that the incident was planned and orchestrated based on false allegations. The root of the main incident began with an argument over paying less money after a haircut.

The two detained individuals are Paresh Chandra Shil and his son Bishnu Chandra Shil. Both of them are barbers by profession and have been running a salon in Goshla Bazar for a long time. Dipti Rani Shil, the daughter-in-law of Paresh Chandra Shil, told BBC Bangla, "My father-in-law and husband are completely innocent. They have made false allegations. My father-in-law assured me that the argument between them was solely over money." She further said, "I asked my father-in-law about the incident.

He clearly stated that no such thing happened there. A boy got a haircut and was leaving after paying less money. When an argument broke out over this, the boy left threatening to teach them a lesson later." "On Sunday, they vandalized the shop and started beating her father-in-law, which her husband tried to prevent. Later, both of them were beaten and handed over to the police," Dipti Rani Shil alleged. She also added, "I don't know why they are threatening. But I am afraid to even stay at home now."

Based on this incident, Md. Abdul Aziz, the imam of the local Al-Hera Jame Mosque, filed a case at the police station as the plaintiff. Md. Zobair Hosein, a witness in the case and the khatib of the mosque, said, "The two barbers made disrespectful remarks about the Prophet. There are eyewitnesses to this." However, he again admitted, "Neither I nor the plaintiff of the case are eyewitnesses to the incident ourselves." They confirmed the incident after hearing about it from the complainant and others. The imam filed the case because he has an imam-congregant relationship with the complainant.

When asked why the accused salon was attacked three days after the incident, he said, "The incident happened on Friday and everyone was busy with Jumma prayers that day. Later, after hearing the details from two people, the congregants and locals went to the salon on Sunday and detained them. Afterward, the police took them into custody and sent them to jail." Md. Saju Mia, police inspector of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station, said, "Local congregants harassed the two individuals on charges of religious defamation.

Later, the police brought the situation under control and took them into custody. The investigation is now ongoing. Proper legal action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true." According to the police report and the case statement, a youth named Md. Nazmul Islam from the Balatari area went to get a haircut at the Goshla Bazar salon last Friday. It was alleged that at that time, Paresh Chandra Shil made offensive remarks about Islam and the Prophet. The case also stated that a month and a half prior to this, Paresh Chandra Shil had made similar remarks to a 17-year-old adolescent.

Local congregants claimed that upon learning about the matter, they went to the salon at 2:15 PM on Sunday and detained the two individuals. Tension flared up at that time, and later the police and joint forces brought the situation under control.