Unidentified miscreants vandalized 3 idols of Handyal Sri Sri Bhadra Kalimata temple in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna. The temple authorities believe that this incident happened in the late night of Monday (09 September).

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Reduanul Halim along with policemen visited the scene on Tuesday (September 10) morning after receiving the news.

It is learned that on the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja on Monday night, the people of the temple committee were working on making a pandal in front of the Handyal Sri Sri Bhadra Kalimata temple. Everyone went home after locking the temple gate around 11 pm. On Tuesday morning, when a woman named Bandana Rani went to the temple to worship, the local people came and informed the police when she saw three idols of Mahadev inside the temple being vandalized.

UNO Reduanul Halim, Chatmohar Police Station OC Salim Reza, Upazila Puja Celebration Council President Ashok Chakraborty, General Secretary Prabir Dutta Chaitanya and others visited the spot after receiving the news.

It is believed that the idols were broken with iron rods or batams without being able to break the lock of the grill of the temple.

Kutishwar Dev, General Secretary of Handyal Sri Sri Bhadra Kalimata Mandir Committee, said that even during the independence war, Pujara is going on in our area including this temple. There has never been any incident of idol breaking in our area. We will refrain from performing Durga Puja unless we get justice for this incident.

Prabir Dutta Chaitanya, General Secretary of Upazila Puja Celebration Parishad, said that the incident is very sad. Miscreants have committed such incidents to destabilize the environment and break the morale of common Hindus. We want its justice. He also said that otherwise they will think about refraining from doing Durga Puja in the future.

Chatmohar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Salim Reza said, I went to the spot after getting the information. The matter is being looked at seriously. He said that the legal process is ongoing.

In this regard, Chatmohar Upazila Executive Officer Reduanul Halim said that the incident site has been inspected. A case has been filed with the police station on behalf of the temple committee. Strict action will be taken against whoever is involved in this incident.