Hindu Temples, households vandalised in Khulna

At least six temples and several Hindu households and shops were vandalised on Saturday evening in Rupsha Upazila of Khulna.

They attacked the Shiali village with locally made sharp weapons around 6:00 pm and vandalised shops, at least six temples and several houses were looted, said Rupsha Thana Puja Udjapan Parishad president Shaktipada Basu.

Witnesses said the miscreants beat up the people who went to stop them and fled the area before the villagers could prevent the attack.

According to locals and Rupsha police sources, some female devotees of Lord Krishna were on their way to Shiyali Mahasmashan from Purbapara temple on Friday (August 8) to perform kirtan during the Esha prayers which led to the scuffle. There is a mosque in the middle of the crematorium. 

Although the matter was supposed to be settled today by the elders, suddenly hundreds of people from neighbouring villages gathered at the Hindu majority areas of the village and started vandalising their temples, households and shops.

From there, they moved to the temples in Shiali Purbapara area, where they vandalized all the idols of Hindu gods and goddesses in Hari Mandir, Durga Mandir and the Govinda Mandir, which is located at the residence of one Shivpada Dhar.

The Officer-in-charge of Rupsha Police Station Sardar Mosharraf Hossain said, "The miscreants fled before we reached the spot after receiving the news at around 7.45 pm."

The case was filed on Saturday night. Police are trying to catch the accused.

Khulna District Superintendent of Police Mahbub Hasan told the media that additional police were deployed in the area and everything was under control. We are working with local people. Prompt legal action will be taken against those involved in the incident.

Rupsha police OC Hossain said: “We are alert and active to keep the situation under control.”