Bangladesh:Hindu idols at 14 temples vandalised in Thakurgaon

In Bangladesh, unidentified miscreants vandalised 14 idols at 12 Hindu temples under Baliadangi upazila in northern Thakurgaon district in the early hours of Sunday. "The temples are located at Dhantala, Paria and Charul unions in the upazila," Khairul Anam, officer-in-charge of Baliadangi police station said. Upazila nirbahi officer Bipul Kumar said the temples in the three unions were located on the roadside and looked almost vulnerable."The incident took place bitween Saturday-Sunday night. We visited the spots. The deputy commissioner and the police superintendent also visited the temples," he added.

Bidyanath Barman, general secretary of Baliandani Upazila Puja Celebration Council, said nine temples in Dhantala, one in Charol and four in Paria were attacked. The temples were dedicated to Haribasar, Lord Krishna, Manasa, Luxmi and Kali, among others. “The hands, feet and heads of the idols were smashed to bits. Some were broken and left in the pond,” he said. After news of the attacks spread, Md Mahbubur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Thakurgaon district, and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jahangir Hossain inspected the temples.