Most of the male persons fled homes fearing police harassment and further attack by the miscreants, some women told this correspondent during a visit there on Monday.

They also alleged that the villages were attacked in presence of policemen.

This correspondent saw police led by a magistrate guarding the area.

Meanwhile, Pabna district Awami League (AL) blamed local leaders and activists of the ruling Four-Party Alliance for the attacks and claimed that the victims were AL supporters.

On the other hand, district BNP leaders claimed that "villagers torched the houses of extremists and their associates".

This correspondent saw a large number of houses gutted.

The destroyed houses were being rebuilt by village elders, women and children. They had shortage of food as their male bread earners are on the run.

It was gathered from the women and children that on August 29 a group of "armed extremists" from Kachipara village swooped on their houses.

As the villagers resisted, the attackers opened fire injuring two persons named Altaf and Khalek

Four hours after the clash, police teams came from Pabna and Shujanagar.

In the afternoon, a magistrate came with police reinforcements.

Deputy Inspector General of Police of Rajshahi Range Delaware Hussain visited the villages and assured the people of action against the attackers.

Some of the villagers alleged that Pabna police refused to accept a case.

On the other hand, BNP activist Mahatab Uddin of Kachipara village filed a case against 32 men of the four villages, it was gathered. Most of the accused are AL supporters.

After visiting the villages on August 30, Pabna AL President Waziuddin Khan said, "Four-Party Alliance activists at Kachipara are to blamed for this (attack)".