The followers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were involved in incidents of unrest, acid attacks and assaults on law enforcement officers at Hazari Goli (lane) in the port city on Tuesday, according to local police.

As of Wednesday evening, a total of 82 persons were arrested in connection with the incidents that erupted over a Facebook post, while a case was also filed with the port city’s Kotwali police station accusing 582 persons.

Sources said Hindus attacked the shop of one Osman Ali on Tuesday evening and kept him surrounded over his Facebook post that branded ISKCON as a terrorist outfit. The shop was located in Hazari Goli, a Hindu-majority area.

Locals tried to calm the agitators, but seeing their reconciliation attempts as futile they sought assistance from law enforcers.

On information, the members of joint forces rushed to the spot and took Osman and his brothers under their custody.

About 500-600 people had gathered at the shop of Osman to kill him along with his brother. Even as the joint forces of army and police assured the Hindus of providing justice through due process, their agitation kept worsening, officers said.

As law enforcement officers were rescuing Osman Ali, ISKCON supporters attacked them by pelting brickbats and broken bottles. The attackers at one point sprayed acid on the law enforcers, injuring nine policemen and five army men.

The joint forces had to fire blank shots to contain the situation.

Chattogram Jewellery Association Joint General Secretary Kajal Banik claimed Hindu protests can be expected in a predominantly Hindu area if an individual with different beliefs tries to disrepute a Hindu religious organisation.

After the protests, law enforcers kept attacking people indiscriminately in the Hazari Goli until 8.30pm Tuesday, Kajal Banik alleged.

The joint forces highlighted various aspects of the incident at a press conference of the 34 Construction Brigade on Wednesday, painting a different picture of the happenings.

Lt Col Ferdous Ahmed said on behalf of Taskforce-4 that investigations are underway to reveal the persons and motive behind the incident.

Additional forces were deployed in and around the Hazari Goli and other important areas of the port city to further avert any untoward incident, he said.

On the other hand, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Rais Uddin said at a press conference at CMP Media Centre in the afternoon that most of those arrested were ISKCON supporters.

Citing findings from the primary interrogation, DC Rais said those involved in the incident chanted Indian slogans like “Jai Shri Ram.”

“By analysing the propaganda on social media and following intelligence findings, it became apparent that the supporters of ISKCON were involved in the incidents,” the CMP official said.

When asked whether there was political instigation behind the incident, he said, “Investigation would reveal whether there is political instigation. Our action against those who want to disrupt the peaceful city is ongoing.”

Regarding the closure of shops at the Hazari Goli, the officer said that they had not given any instructions to close the shops.

“For security reasons, some shops have been locked and temporarily closed by the district administration so that no one engages in vandalism or looting,” he stated.

On the other hand, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement formed a human chain and held a demonstration against the incident in Hazari Goli on Wednesday afternoon.

They held a rally in front of the Chattogram Press Club and demanded the arrest of those attacking army-led joint forces.

They also vowed to resist those who would try to disrupt the communal harmony in the country.

Later, the demonstrators took out a procession and paraded through several major streets.