DHAKA, 7 April, 2021 (TON): Arguments with authorities who were trying to enforce the lockdown led to the allegedly planned arson attack, Faridpur district administration and the police said.

“The attack was carried out in a planned way based on rumors,” Saltha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Hasib Sarkar said.

On Monday, from around 8pm to 11pm, ‘thousands of people’ carried out vandalism and set the Upazila Complex and the office of Upazila assistant commissioner on fire.

After firing over 700 rounds of bullet, the law enforcers brought the situation under control.

Police detained three individuals, but no case has been started.

The UNO said, “We went to Ramakantapur area on Monday afternoon to put the lockdown in effect as per government instructions due to a spike in corona virus infection.

“After we returned, the locals spread rumors that several people had died from police firing and two Muslim clergymen from Bahirdia Madrasa had been arrested and beaten up. This led to several thousand people arriving with sticks and vandalizing and setting different places on fire from 8pm and 11pm,” it added.

However, besides detaining three over the incident, the police are preparing cases and running identification checks using video footages.