Temple attacked, vandalised in Gazipur allegedly over land dispute

A Hindu temple in Gazipur's Kaliakair has been vandalised reportedly by a local construction contractor and his associates over a long-running land dispute earlier today (30 August), according to eyewitnesses and police.

"Local contractor Lebu Mia and 50-60 men attacked the Naat Mandir in Shafipur Bazar suddenly after breaking down the walls of Shafipur Paschim Para Shoshan Kali Mandir at around 9:30am," Shafipur Sarbajanin Shoshan Ghat and Radha Gobinda Loknath Naat Mandir Committee's Convener Kaushik Chowdhury said.

"When we went to prevent them, they beat us as well," he added.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers destroyed the temple's supporting pillars, causing its tin shed roof to collapse.

The attackers were later chased away after a large number of locals gathered to prevent the attack. They managed to capture one of the attackers and hand him over to the police, said Kaushik.

The Business Standard tried to reach Lebu Mia over the phone, but he did not answer.

Meanwhile, protesting the attack on the temple, members of the local Hindu community blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway later in the day.

However, they ended the blockade after local leaders and government officials promised that those responsible would be brought to justice, the temple's security would be ensured, and it would be reformed.

Speaking about the attack, Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawsar Ahmed said, "As soon as I came to know about the incident, I informed the police and army. They have been contacted by the administration. We also visited the spot.

"We will take strict action against those responsible. All measures are being taken to ensure the safety of Hindu brothers and sisters and to renovate the temple. Currently, the situation is normal." 

Nazmus Sakib Khan, additional superintendent (crime) of Gazipur Police, said, "As soon as we got the news of the undesired incident, we went to the spot along with the new Superintendent of Gazipur Police Abul Kalam Azad. We have spoken to the Sanatan community and took necessary measures to ensure their safety.

"One person involved in the incident has already been detained. Police are working to arrest all those involved including the main accused."

There are four temples in the Shafipur Bazar – Durga Mandir, Naat Mandir, Kamrup Kamakhya Mandir and Shoshan Mandir.

They are situated on lands, which according to locals, were donated to the Sanatan community by the late Rangalal Babu. Not much is known about Babu, except that the lands were his ancestral property. 

However, Lebu Mia has long been claiming that 4 decimals of land, where some of the temples stand, were his. 

Locals alleged that he even prepared illegal fake documents. Later, the matter was taken to court, where Lebu Mia lost the legal battle. 

Haripad Sarkar, joint convenor of Safipur Sarbojanin Shoshan Ghat and Radha Gobind Loknath Naat Mandir Committee, said "The temple has been here since 1972. They were trying to grab the temple land by creating a fake deed of the temple site.

Following that, Lebu Mia brought people and vandalised the temple."