Man lands in jail for vandalising idols, theft

Thu Jan 2, 2025 12:00 AM

A man was sent to jail yesterday on charges of vandalising idols and looting money, gold ornaments from the Sri Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu temple in Moulvibazar’s Barlekha.

Suspect Zakir Hossain Tipu, 31, was arrested shortly after the incident, said Barlekha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Qayyum.

Kripasindhu Dutta, president of the temple (Sevashram) in the Aditya Mahal area, filed a case with the police station.

The OC said Barlekha police detained the suspect within three hours of the crime. Some of the stolen money and ornaments have been recovered.

Tipu confessed to the crime during initial questioning, the OC said, adding that a court later sent him to jail.

Tipu entered the Sevashram premises during morning prayers. As he attempted to enter the temple, the temple priest, Leela Rani Dutta, stopped him and questioned whether he had bathed according to the temple’s protocol.

Tipu then struck Leela on the head and vandalised two idols of Mahaprabhu. He also looted cash from the donation box and gold and silver ornaments from the idols before fleeing on a motorcycle.

The local administration, including Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tahmina Akhtar, municipal administrator Mohammad Aslam Sarwar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Kulaura Circle) Md Kamrul Hasan, and OC Md Abdul Qayyum, visited the spot along with leaders from the Press Club, Hindu-Buddhist Unity Council, and Puja Udjapan Parishad.