Conflicts & War

4 dead in mob clashes with police in Bangladesh over temple vandalism

Dhaka, Oct 14 (EFE).- Four people were killed as a mob of Muslims clashed with the police over vandalizing several Hindu temples in eastern Bangladesh amid rising tension between the two religious communities, authorities said Thursday.

Momena Akter, the administrative chief of Hajiganj in Chandpur district – where the incident occurred -, told EFE the clashes took place on Wednesday night.

“I can confirm that four people were killed in the clash last night. We are not sure if they died in police firing,” Akter said, without providing further details.

Recently, a footage circulated on social media in which the Muslim holy book Quran was shown placed on the knee of an idol of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman during a religious festival in eastern Cumilla district.

The video has since sparked tensions across Bangladesh, prompting the authorities to deploy paramilitary forces in at least 22 districts of the country.

The religious affairs ministry has urged the people for calm and said it has ordered a probe into the allegations of disrespecting the Quran.

“No one should take law in his own hand over the incident. Everyone is urged to keep religious harmony, peace and security,” said the ministry statement.

Meanwhile, Hindu community leader Milan Kanti Datta told EFE mobs have attacked temples in at least nine districts.

Mob violence is not uncommon in Muslim-majority Bangladesh over actions allegedly causing hurt to religious sentiments.

In October 2020, an angry mob beat a mentally-ill person to death and burnt his body for allegedly disrespecting the Quran in Bangladesh. EFE

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