Miscreants vandalise eight Durga idols in Bangladesh

Bhanga police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Moksedur Rahman Dhaka Tribune that the incident took place on Saturday, adding that the police were giving the matter top priority and conducting a thorough investigation.

The culprits would definitely be brought to justice, the OC said.

Arun Chandra Saha, general secretary of the temple, told the news channel that artisans had just completed making the idols a few days ago.

“We were preparing to paint them in a day or two. There were a total of 14 idols in the temple, of which eight were vandalized in different parts," Saha said.

The incident happened just weeks before the Hindu community members are gearing up to celebrate Durga Puja.

There has been a reported uptick in attacks against Hindus in the country ever since the former Awami League government collapsed and led to the escaping of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh.

Bhanga Puja Celebration Committee President Swapan Chandra Saha told reporters as quoted by Dhaka Tribune that various parts of eight idols, including those of Arjuna and Ganesh, had been vandalized at Hari Mandir.

Saha demanded justice from the administration.