Buddhist monk attacked in temple

Two unidentified men attacked an indigenous Buddhist monk inside a temple in remote Panchhari upazila of Khagrachhari and looted Tk 1 lakh early Monday.

The attackers intruded into the temple by breaking its door and attacked the monk with sharp weapons, said Sonshay Chakma, a devotee of the temple.

The victim is Augra Jyoti Mahasthabir, 47, principal of Pujgang Praggya Sadhona Bono Vihar (temple), Sonshay added.

Dulal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Panchhari Police Station, said an attempt to murder case was filed in this connection.

According to the victim, the two miscreants, one aged around 25, indiscriminately attacked him with sharp weapons.

"At one point, I became senseless," he said, adding, "Both the attackers were of Bengali-speaking community."

The indigenous Buddhist community members in the area are scared after the attack on the monk, Sonshay said.

"We first took him [the victim] to Panchhari Upazila Health Complex for treatment," he further said, adding that doctors at the complex later referred him Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.

Ripon Bappi, resident medical officer of Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital, said, "The injured monk had wounds on his head, hand and other parts of the body."