Picture sparks off attacks on temples

TENSION remains high in Bangladesh after the alleged killing of two Hindu devotees, and the vandalism and torching of temples and homes over the past week.

The violence is said to have been sparked after a photograph was circulated on social media allegedly showing the Qur’an placed on the knee of a Hindu deity during the Durga Puja festival in the eastern district of Cumilla.

According to Aljazeera.com, angry mobs attacked Hindu temples and clashed with police in various parts of Bangladesh, leaving at least six people, including two Hindus, dead and more than 100 injured.

Aljazeera.com reported that at least four people were killed when police opened fire on a crowd attacking a Hindu temple in Hajiganj.

Violence also broke out in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong, prompting police to fire tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of Muslim protesters.

It reported that Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Prime Minister, met leaders of the Hindu community 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.

However, about 10 000 protesters, many of them carrying banners of Islamist political parties, took to the streets outside Dhaka’s main mosque on Saturday.

The crowd chanted “Down with the enemies of Islam” and “Hang the culprits”, reported Al Jazeera.

"We ask the government to arrest those who defamed the Qur’an by putting it at the feet of an idol in Cumilla,” said Mosaddek Billah al-Madani, the president of Bangladesh’s Islamic Movement.

He said that protesters demanded “the death sentence” for those responsible for the images.

According to a report on Hindustantimes.com, Vrajendra Nandan Das, the national communication director of Iskcon, urged the Bangladeshi government to take strict action after the alleged killing of Iskcon devotees and the vandalism of temples.

According to the report, a mob of about 200 people allegedly stormed the Iskcon temple in Noakhali and killed one of its members, Partha Das, on Friday.

Das was an executive member of the temple committee. He was allegedly beaten and stabbed to death.

On Saturday morning, another Hindu man’s body was found in a pond next to the temple.

“They killed our two disciples. One's body was recovered from a pond near the temple. He was a good devotee. They took him, killed him brutally, and his body was recovered from the lake. This is really sad," he said.

Iskcon was celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Pramukhpad Ji, its founder.

“This incident is condemnable. In the whole world, Iskcon is promoting the Hindu community, Sanatan Dharam, and we are celebrating the 125th anniversary of Iskcon's Pramukhpad Ji, and his statue was vandalised. How saddening it is. Whatever is happening is wrong,” he said.

Fresh violence was reported to have erupted in the city of Rangpur on Sunday night. According to Timesofindia. com, more than 20 houses, believed to be belonging to Hindus, were burned down by a mob. It reported that about 65 houses were torched during the attack. However, there were no injuries.

IN ANY society and religion, temples are sacred places of worship and sanctuary.

The South African Maha Sabha condemns the violent mob attack on devotees at the Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness shrine in Noakhali area, Bangladesh, and the damage to the temple on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra on October 15.

Tragically one Iskcon devotee was killed.

The Maha Sabha extends its sympathies to Iskcon and calls on the Bangladesh government to act swiftly against the perpetrators of such senseless violence.

ASHWIN TRIKAMJEE The President of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha