Extortionists vandalise temple, idols

Criminals injured five people of a minority community and vandalised a temple and idols over paying extortion at the local Mohanamjaggo festival at Tepa Padumshaher village in Shagahta upazila of the district Monday noon.

Lower caste Hindu community arranged a religious festival, Mohanamjaggo, at the village, where a small fair was held by the local people, and makeshift shops were erected for sale of toys and sweetmeats.

Local hoodlums demanded money from the shop owners, which was protested by the festival committee. They asked the shop owners not to pay any money.

Hearing this, the criminals attacked the temple, and a clash ensued when the devotees tried to resist the attack. The criminals beat up the people in the temple, injuring five, including women. They also vandalised statues of Kali and Laxmi.

The miscreants snatched away cash from Sunil Chandra Das, treasurer of the committee, and fled the scene after locals came to help, said Radha Charon Das, president of the committee.

On being informed, police from Borarpara police outpost rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. They arrested a woman in this connection, said Azizur Rahman, in-charge of the outpost.