Report in The Daily Star, Mar 18, 2023
Two youths were arrested yesterday in connection with the attack, vandalism, and stealing of idols in two separate temples in Ulipur upazila of Kurigram.
The arrested youths, resident students of Ulipur Masjidul Huda Nurani and Hafezia Madrasa in Ulipur upazila, admitted their involvement in this incident, Ulipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman told The Daily Star at 10:00pm last night.
“The missing idol of Goddess Kali has been recovered,” the OC said.
The arrestees are Jannatul Ferdous, 19, son of Saiful Islam of Taluk Shimulbari Fakirpara village in Phulbari upazila, and a 15-year-old of Bijayram Tabakpur village in Dhamsreni union of Ulipur.
According to police, miscreants attacked Joddarpara Sannyasitala Kali Mandir and Battala Kali Mandir in Ulipur municipality area on Wednesday and Thursday night and vandalised the idols, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.
The Kali idol of the Sannyasitala temple was taken away.
Sudipta Dev, general secretary of Sannyasitala Kali Mandir Committee, filed a case at Ulipur Police Station yesterday under Sections 295, 295 (Ka), 457 and 380 of the Penal Code.
Sudipta Dev told The Daily Star last night that it was not just the two youths who were behind the crime.
Many others were in the gang that premeditated attacks on temples, vandalising them and stealing the idol, he added.
“We demand the police identify the entire gang and bring everyone to book,” he said.
Ulipur Police OC Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman told The Daily Star that the madrasa students were detained on suspicion and during interrogation, they confessed to the crime.
“Later a case was registered against them. Based on the information provided by them, the missing Kali idol was recovered from an abandoned canal.”
“The two arrested madrasa students gave important information during the interrogation. We are verifying this information. Everyone involved in this incident will be brought under the law,” OC said.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/attack-kurigram-temples-2-arrested-madrasa-students-confess-3274126
