New Delhi: The Bangladesh Police on Saturday said Two Hindu Men have been killed in fresh violence in Bangladesh, taking the number of deaths to six from recent unrest in the Muslim Majority country.
The minority community makes up about 10 percent of the population.
The attackers vandalized puja mandaps and carried out attacks on temples in Noakhali`s Begumganj Upazila during the celebrations of Durga Puja.
Police further said that “The latest violence occurred in the southern town of Begumganj when hundreds of Muslims formed a street procession after Friday prayers on the final day of Durga Puja.”
Shah Imran – a local police station chief told the media that More than 200 protesters attacked a temple where members of the Hindu community were preparing to perform the last rites of the 10-day festival. The attackers beat and stabbed to death an executive member of the temple committee.
On Saturday morning, another Hindu man’s body was found near a pond next to the temple, district police chief Shahidul Islam told the media.
“Two men have died since yesterday’s attack. We are working to find the culprits,” Police added.
The Anti-Hindu violence spread to more than a dozen districts across Bangladesh this week.
Gobinda Chandra Pramanik – Community leader said At least 150 Hindus were injured across the country. At least four people were killed late Wednesday when police opened fire on a crowd of around 500 people attacking a Hindu temple in Hajiganj, one of several towns hit by the disturbances.
Local authorities said they have deployed extra security including paramilitary border guards to control any further unrest.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met leaders of the Hindu community on Thursday and promised stern action. “So far around 90 people have been arrested. We will also hunt down all the masterminds,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.
(_Vinayak Barot)