Tungipara temple vandalism: Case filed, 3 detained

Dumuria Union Parishad's former chairman Sukhmoy Bain filed a case over the incident with Tungipara police on Thursday night accusing 20 people. Hours later, police nabbed three of the suspects – Sohel Sheikh, Sabur Sheikh and Torab Ali Sheikh – from Uttar Bashbaria area. Several people broke into Durga Mandir, Hari Mandir and Radha Gobinda Mandir on Wednesday night and vandalised 20 idols. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hails from Tungipara. The incident triggered protests from among the local Hindus. Md Shafiullah, Tungipara upazila nirbahi officer, said it was not clear yet who were behind the vandalism. “We suspect it resulted from conflicts over possession of government land,” he said. Sukhmoy Bain, who filed the complaint, said one Ezaz Sheikh of Bashbaria village tried to set up a shop on government land at Jamai Bazar. Locals Hindus had opposed the move on several occasions leading to tension between the two camps. Sukhmoy said they suspected that the attack was a result of the conflict. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman Sarkar said additional policemen had been deployed in the locality. “It is a sensitive matter. This is the prime minister's locality,” he said. “We are monitoring the situation and will arrest the accused.”