At least 10 people were injured as the worshippers of a Iskcon temple and Muslim devotees from a nearby mosque locked in a clash in Kajalshah area under Sylhet City Corporation yesterday afternoon.
Former ward councillor Jebunnahar Shirin and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple employee Rajendra Keshob Das were injured in the clash.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner SM Rokan Uddin told Dhaka Tribune the clash took place after Jumma prayers when Muslim devotees went to the temple to confront the authorities there for not stopping the devotional songs that were being played on occasion of Kirtan at the temple.
“Muslim devotees went to the temple before the Jumma prayers and had requested the temple authorities to stop the devotional songs while the prayers are held. However, when the songs were not stopped, the devotees went there again and locked in an altercation,” Rokan Uddin claimed.
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At one point, both groups started hurling bricks at one another leaving ten people injured, he added.
At the news of this incident, police rushed to the spot and fired several blank shots to disperse the crowds.
Due to the clash, vehicle movement on Rikanibazar and Medical roads came to a halt.
An eyewitness told the Dhaka Tribune banners at the entrance of the temple were torn up during the clash.
When contacted, Iskcon temple Principal Gaurango Brahmachari said: “Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Jamal Uddin Ahmad is visiting the spot and this is why I am unable to make any comment at this moment.”
As of 9pm, he was still in a meeting with the divisional commissioner and police commissioner.
But he told Dhaka Tribune the temple authorities were considering filing a case in this matter.
“We were attacked and we want justice for this. Until justice is done, we will keep protesting,” he said.
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