Three policemen were brutally beaten to death, and the perpetrators will not be spared, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner (Operation) Biplab Kumar Sarkar warned today.

“Three of our policemen sacrificed their lives; they were brutally beaten to death. Not a single one of those who killed them, those who attacked police in uniform, will be spared. No matter who they are, they will not be spared. We are determined to bring them to book after arresting them, wherever they are,” he said.

The DMP joint commissioner made the remarks while talking to reporters at DMP headquarters on Wednesday.

“Over the last few days, BNP-Jamaat and radical forces have led nationwide sabotage,” he said.

So far, 154 cases have been filed and 1,380 people have been arrested, the DMP official said, adding that many are on remand and they are giving important information.

AP report: Bangladesh moves back to normalcy after violent clashes that killed nearly 200 people

Miscreants carried out attacks on 69 police establishments and a number of traffic boxes were sent on fire while attempts were made to torch some police outposts and stations, he said.

“The main target of the attack was Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Bangladesh Police. Police fired the first bullet at the Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War. Those who opposed the Liberation War and are against the spirit of independence thus have a vendetta against the police. Hence, Bangladesh Police is the first target of any sabotage,” said the DMP joint commissioner.

Asked about the damages and losses caused by the violence, Biplab said, “Our development section is working on it; equipment worth Tk 8.72 crore were destroyed.”

“Considering the level of sabotage and destruction and the way police and other government establishments were burnt, it can be safely said that this cannot be a student movement. BNP and Jamaat were behind this to take the movement in a different direction,” he said.

No general student was involved in this, the DMP official said.

“We are getting all the footages from the sites of the attacks as well as videos from numerous sources. General people have made videos and are giving them to us. We are analysing all the data. A combing operation is underway to arrest those who are the masterminds of this unthinkable violence,” the DMP joint commissioner said.