Farhana Akhter, Joypurhat:
Miscreants vandalized idols of two temples at night in Joypurhat. After inspecting the spot, the deputy commissioner assured to identify the culprits and bring them under the law.
The incident took place in Mankhur Madhyapara village of Puranapail union under Sadar upazila of Joypurhat district.
Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner Shariful Islam, Superintendent of Police Masum Ahmed Bhuiyan, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Arafat Hossain, DB Police OC Shahed Al Mamun and Joypurhat Police Station OC AKM Alamgir Jahan visited the spot on Wednesday (June 1) after informing the local MPs and administration about the matter. .
It is learned that on the night of May 30, miscreants vandalized the idol of Goddess Lakshi of a public Durga temple in the area and another family temple adjacent to the house of Pradip Mahanta next to it.
On the day of the incident, the traditional worshipers of the area, after completing the evening puja, locked the main door of the temple and went to their respective homes. Later in the night, the miscreants of an insidious mahal, who had caused communal riots at some point, broke the locks of the two temples and entered the house, smashed the heads of the idols of Goddess Lakshi and Swarasati and fled from the scene before anyone could see them. The next morning, the local followers of the traditional religion came to worship at the temple and saw that the two idols had been vandalized.
Gopal Chandra Mahanta, president of the Mankhur Madhyapara Public Durga Temple Committee, said this was the first time that Hindus and Muslims had been living together in the area for decades.
Locals in the area, irrespective of religion or caste, said that the incident was carried out by an insidious group to destroy the communal harmony and for their own benefit. They immediately identified those involved in the incident and demanded severe punishment under the law.
Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner Shariful Islam said that after receiving the news, he visited the spot and necessary steps have been taken by the district administration. Legal action will be taken subject to investigation.