Arsonists set fire to a carriage of the Jaria train, damaging several seats in Mymensingh early Wednesday.

The incident occurred around 4:15 am beside the Bagmara railway crossing, near the city’s railway station.

Mymensingh Railway Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Akhtar Hossain confirmed the incident to News. He said the coaches of the Jaria train were parked at the washpit for cleaning when the arsonists set them on fire. Railway security personnel (RNB) on patrol quickly brought the fire under control, but by then seats numbered 27 to 32 had already been burnt.

OC Hossain added that the train departed from Mymensingh Railway Station at 6:00 am, carrying passengers en route to Jaria, Netrokona. He assured that necessary measures would be taken regarding the incident.

Inspector Sirajul Islam of the Railway Security Force (RNB) Mymensingh office told reporters that the area was quite dark at night. Taking advantage of this, a group of miscreants deliberately set the train on fire using gunpowder and petrol. Three RNB personnel nearby chased one of the suspects but were unable to catch him due to the darkness.

The RNB members then soaked their jackets in water, used them to cover the fire, and quickly doused it to bring it under control.

Inspector Islam noted that there was no major damage. After extinguishing the fire, officials found that several seats in one coach were partially burnt, while gunpowder-like substances had been spread on a few other seats, with petrol added to accelerate the fire.