Temple on property stolen from mentally challenged man

Malin Kanti Barua, a construction business owner, allegedly took control of the property holding number 159 in Balaghata area owned by Tilak Barua and built a temple named Sarbajanin Hari Mandir there. The 1.66 acre property was bought by Tilak’s father Niharkanti Barua in 2005. Malin took control of the land immediately after he passed away about three years ago. On February 15, Malin complained to the Bandarban Sadar Police that some miscreants were plotting to vandalise the temple. Additional Superintendent of Police Shampa Rani Saha, who led a police team to investigate the claim, found that the temple was built to keep control of the land. The district temple committee found that the temple was used by Malin’s family and was not Sarbajanin, or open to the public. Asked about the allegations, Malin Kanti Das said: “If the temple stays, it will stay my property. If it doesn’t, I won’t have any claim over the land.”