518 escape Sherpur District jail of Bangladesh with arms

United News of Bangladesh and Agencies, Sherpur  05 August, 2024 : A mob breached Sherpur district jail this afternoon, facilitating the escape of all the 518 inmates. 

At one stage, they stormed into the jail at Damdama-Kaliganj area of the district town, brought out a procession amid curfew on Monday afternoon breaking open the jail gate and setting fire. 

The mob armed with sticks and other weapons stormed the jail, forced open the gates, and set parts of the facility ablaze. 

The attack was carried out between 4:30pm to 5:30pm, said Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Khairun. 

Miscreants stormed into the Sherpur District Jail, allowing 500 inmates to flee from the jail. 

The mob also torched different establishments and offices in the district. Besides, miscreants also set the sadar police station on fire around 1pm. 

DC quarter, New Market, Sadar ASP circle office, Zila Parishad, district election office, Sonali Bank, district Ansar-VDP office and other shops and establishments were vandalized. 

The facility, situated approximately 100 kilometers from the India-Bangladesh border, has prompted heightened security measures in India.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has increased its deployment along the border to prevent any potential spillover. Authorities have identified 20 of the escapees having possible terror affiliations belonging to radical groups such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen.