Man arrested over vandalism of Hindu idols in Faridpur is not Indian: Police

A day after the arrest of a man, identified as an Indian national, for allegedly desecrating Hindu idols in Faridpur, police on Tuesday went back on their earlier submission to say that he isn't actually an Indian citizen, rather he is a mentally-challenged Bangladeshi.

Faridpur's Additional Superintendent of Police Shailen Chakma explained that they issued a media release on Monday narrating that they had arrested the 45-year-old Sanjit Biswas in connection with the desecration of idols in a temple in Faridpur's Bhanga upazila.

In the release, the arrestee was identified as an Indian national, and the media extensively circulated the news, he said.

However the arrestee's father Nishikant Biswas contacted the district police to clarify that the arrested individual is his son, Sanjit Biswas.

According to Nishikant Biswas, Sanjit, who had travelled to India for work around 24-25 years ago, returned to Bangladesh and subsequently went missing about four years ago. Sanjit has had no contact with his family since then and is known to have frequently traveled to India. His father revealed that Sanjit is mentally sick.

The police official further informed that the arrestee in the idol vandalism case is currently in jail awaiting further legal proceedings.

On the night of September 14, members of the temple committee reported to the Bhanga Police Station that several idols at the Hari Mandir in Bhanga Bazaar had been vandalized. The temple committee lodged a written complaint with the police following the discovery of the damage.