In overnight attacks, unidentified people vandalised 14 idols of different Hindu deities in 12 temples across Baliadangi upazila in the northern district of Thakurgaon early Sunday.
The temples are located in Dhantala, Paria and Charul unions of Baliadangi, said Khairul Anam, officer-in-charge of Baliadangi Police Station.
Police are yet to identify, trace or arrest any of the attackers.
Baliadangi Upazilla Nirbahi Officer Bipul Kumar said all the vandalised temples are on roadside on a six-kilometre stretch of road across the three unions. He said all those temples remained vulnerable.
Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Md Mahbubur Rahman said, “The temples were vandalised overnight Sunday. We have visited the spots.”
The criminals must be brought to book, he said, adding, “They will face exemplary punishment after investigation.”
Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jahangir Hossain said they talked with the local Hindu community member and asked them not to be panicked.
“Additional security measures have been taken across the upazila. The situation is under control now,” he added.
Dilip Kumar Chatterjee, chairman of Charul council, said unidentified people vandalised the idols. “Hearing the news rushed the spots in the morning and later informed the local administration,” he said.
Jyotimoy Singh, general secretary of the Dhantala union puja udjapan committee, said, “We have been offering puja in the temples for around 50 years. No untoward incidents took place during the years. We demand justice for the heinous act and immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the crime.”
