Mob vandalises, loots ISKCON temple in Dhaka; several hurt: Official

A mob of over 200 led by Islamist Haji Shafiullah vandalised the ISKCON temple in Dhaka, took away idols and injured several devotees, an temple official said on Friday.

Amani Krishna Das, the public relations officer of ISKCON temple, told ANI: "More than 200 people led by Haji Shafiullah attacked, vandalised and looted the ISKCON Radhakanta temple at 222, Lal Mohan Saha Street in Wari." 

"The miscreants attempted to break the security wall of the temple," Das said.

The devotees who were beaten up by the mob were identified as Sumantra Chandra Shravan, Nihar Haldar, Rajiv Bhadram, he said, adding that however, the devotees were rescued with the help of police later.

According to sources, the high commission of India is in touch with Bangladeshi authorities, minority groups, law enforcement, and senior leaders.

This incident comes a few months after a series of attacks on minority religious places in Bangladesh last October.

An ISKCON temple in Noakhali city was vandalised in October last year.

Earlier, communal tensions gripped the country following allegations that the Quran was dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla, triggering violence in several districts across the country.