Hindu temple torched in Netrakona

Source: Star

In this January 7 photo, people looking at damaged shops belonging to Hindu community people as BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami men vandalised and looted the shops at Deunia bazar of Gopalpur village in Thakurgaon.

Unidentified criminals set a Hindu temple ablaze and vandalised its three idols in Kalmakanda upazila of Netrakona early today.

The incident of torching temple came a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had warned that massive drives would be conducted to arrest all those involved in the recent attacks on the Hindus.

A portion of the Kali Temple at Battola village were gutted when miscreants set fire to it anytime around 4:00am, said Delwar Hossain, additional superintendent of police (Sadar) in Netrakona. 

Locals managed to douse the fire after 45 minutes, reports our Netrakona correspondent quoting the police official.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) held a rally protesting the recent attacks on the houses and businesses of Hindus in several districts across the country.

Around 150 newsmen gathered in front of Jatiya Press Club and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the attackers.

Despite law enforcers' drives against post-polls and communal violence, fresh attacks were launched on houses and businesses of Hindus in several districts including Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat and Jessore over the last two days.