Youth Covers Face, Enters Temple, Breaks Idols, and Leaves

Local Correspondent

Not in the dead of night, but right after dusk, in full public view, a youth with his face covered walked into a temple, vandalized the idols, and then walked away.

This incident occurred at the Sri Sri Mahamaya Temple in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur on the evening of Thursday, March 14.

Bishwanath Saha, the general secretary of the temple committee, confirmed the incident. He said, “After the evening prayers on Thursday, the temple priest left for home. When he returned at night, he found the broken idols inside the temple. CCTV footage shows a youth with a cloth covering his face entering the temple, breaking the idols, and leaving.”

The incident took place after dusk when people were still moving around normally, and nearby markets and shops were open, he added.

Bishwanath Saha also mentioned that preparations are underway to file a case with the police regarding the incident.

Shimul Saha, president of Bangladesh Jubo Oikya Parishad and general secretary of the district puja celebration committee, strongly condemned the incident. He said, “Whoever is involved in this act of vandalism must be identified within 24 hours and brought under the law.”

Raipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nizam Uddin Bhuiyan said that upon receiving news of the idol vandalism, police visited the scene. An investigation has been launched to determine who was involved and their motives for breaking the idols.