A youth has been detained by police of Bhola Model police station during the vandalism of the decorative gate of a Puja mandap in Bhola.
The detainee was identified as Shimul Chandra, 35, son of the late Madhuchandra, from Ward no 1 of Bapta Union in Bhola Sadar Upazila.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Manik detained the youth approximately 200 yards away from the Sri Sri Durga Mata Temple Puja mandap while he was vandalizing the gate and throwing bricks at the decorations.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mizanur Rahman Patowari of Bhola Sadar Model police station, confirmed the matter.
For successfully detaining the suspect, ASI Manik was awarded a prize of Tk1,000 by Bhola District Police Superintendent Mohammad Shariful Haque.
However, the youth's family claims that Shimul Chandra has been suffering from mental health issues for a long time. Due to his instability, the family has decided to take him to the mental hospital in Pabna for better treatment. They expressed sorrow over the unexpected incident and demanded his release.
However, the police have not received any evidence of his mental instability from the family.
The Sharodiya Durga festival is the largest religious celebration for the Sanatan (Hindu) community, marked by joy, excitement, and various festivities. Following this tradition, the Sharodiya Durga festival has begun in Bhola as well, with the Bhola District Police enhancing security measures for the celebrations.
Regarding this, Bhola District Police Superintendent Mohammad Shariful Haque stated that the district police are vigilant in ensuring the safety of all citizens and are actively securing all types of festivals.
On Wednesday, despite the absence of volunteers and responsible individuals at the Puja mandap, the police were able to apprehend the youth due to their strict enforcement of duty during the vandalism of the Sri Sri Durga Mata Temple gate.
Monosh Ghosh Shanto, President of the Puja Celebration Committee of Bhola Sadar Upazila, expressed gratitude to the district police for their efforts in ensuring security at all Puja mandaps in Bhola Sadar.
He noted that police presence has been strengthened compared to previous years at the Puja mandaps.