In fresh incidents, miscreants have vandalised eight idols in three Hindu temples in Bangladesh's Mymensingh and Dinajpur over two days, a media report said on Friday.
PTI reported citing The Daily Star newspaper that police have arrested one person in connection with vandalism at one of the temples.
These are the newest in a succession of assaults on the minority Hindu group in Bangladesh. In the Mymensingh district's Haluaghat sub-district, early Thursday and Friday, three idols of two temples were vandalised.
Temple sources and locals quote that miscreants have vandalised two idols of the Bonderpara Temple in Shakuai union under Haluaghat during early hours on Friday, says Abul Khayer OC of Haluaghat Police Station.
Moreover, no case has been filed, and no arrests have been made so far, he added.
ANI quoted Abul Khayer, Officer in Charge of Haluaghat Police Station under Northern Mymensigh district saying, "We have arrested one person, Azharul (37) for vandalizing Hindu idols in the Shakuai area. We will produce him in court today. Miscreants on Thursday night broke vandalised two idols under construction at a temple in Shakuai area.
In a separate incident, criminals vandalized an idol at Polashkanda Kali Temple in Beeldora union of Haluaghat early Thursday.
Police on Friday arrested a 27-year-old man of the Polashkanda village over his alleged involvement. During interrogation, the man, Alal Uddin, confessed to the crime, said the OC.
"He was produced before a Mymensingh court this afternoon, which sent him to jail," he added.
Earlier Thursday, Suvash Chandra Sarker, president of the committee of Polashkanda Kali Temple, had filed a case against unnamed persons. Five idols of Jharbari Shashan Kali Temple in Birganj sub-district of Dinajpur were vandalized on Tuesday.
The report says it was on Thursday when the news came to light.
"We never saw such an act here," Janardan Roy, president of the committee of the temple, said as cited.
Officer-in-charge Abdul Gafur said that they are looking into the matter.
Last week, police arrested four people for vandalising and damaging a Hindu temple and houses and shops of the community in Sunamganj district in north Bangladesh.
Earlier, on November 29, three Hindu temples were vandalised by a slogan-shouting mob in Bangladesh's Chattogram which witnessed protests and violence since a former ISKCON member was booked under sedition charges.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have strained since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took power after the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on August 5 following a student-led protest.
Tensions have further escalated in recent weeks due to continued attacks on Hindus, especially after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of ISKCON Bangladesh and now spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote organization.
Last week, Bangladesh reported 88 incidents of communal violence against minorities, mainly Hindus, after Hasina's ouster.
The rising number of anti-Hindu incidents has led to a diplomatic tussle between India and Bangladesh.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had reportedly raised concerns regarding these minorities attacks and issues related to their safety and well-being during the meetings of Bangladeshi leaders in Dhaka.
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