Dinajpur: A suspected JMB member, arrested in connection with Dinajpur temple attack, reportedly confessed to his involvement in the attacks on Eskon temple and Italian pastor Dr Piero Picham Parolari in Dinajpur.

Arrested JMB member Shariful Islam made his confessional statement before the court of Dinajpur Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate F M Ahsanul Haque on Thursday night over his involvement in temple attack and shooting the Italian pastor, officer-in-charge detective branch of police Redwanur Rahim told reporters on Friday noon.

Shariful made his statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), added the OC.

In his statement, Shariful confessed that he along with two other people opened fire on the Italian pastor. He said they used the same motorcycle and pistol in the two attacks.

The law enforcers are now trying to arrest the two other attackers, added the DB official.

On 10 December, two people were injured as miscreants exploded crude bombs and then fired gunshots in Eskon temple and Dahochi Jagannath temple, run by International Society for Krishna Consciousness under Dabar union in Kaharole upazila of the district when the temple committee was in a meeting inside.

Local people chased Shariful and caught him from the spot. Later, he was handed over to police.

Police also arrested another suspected JMB member Mosabbirul Haque in this connection from Singra village in Birganj upazila on 11 December.

On 18 November, Dr Piero Picham, who works at a Catholic church in the district town, sustained bullet injuries in an attack by unknown miscreants at Mirzapur BRTC bus stand in the town.

He was first admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and later airlifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the capital for better treatment.