Temple attacked over land dispute in Jhalakathi

At least 15 people, including four policemen, were injured in the incident in the town's Barachal neighbourhood. Jhalakathi police's Additional ASP Muhammad Abdur Rakib said a group of men started hurling brickbats at the end of Kartik Puja on Wednesday night. They hurled stones at police, who were trying to restore order, before fleeing the scene. Senior police ASP Mahmud Hasan claimed that people loyal to the temple committee attacked them. At least 15 people were injured in the clash that followed, and an idol was destroyed. RAB personnel were brought in from Barisal to bolster security at the temple. Sources said the temple committee and traders had been engaged in a bitter tussle over the possession of a piece of land for a long time. They fought a pitched battle recently. Former municipal councillor Pranab Kumar Nath is backing the temple body while Awami League's Jhalakathi unit organising secretary, also municipal councillor, Tarun Karmakar is with the Barchala traders. Rice traders Gopal Debnath and Hakim Hawlader said they had sat with the temple committee several times over the dispute. The deputy commissioner had formed a three-member body to resolve the issue. They claimed the temple committee members launched a surprise attack on Wednesday night, beating up the traders and looting money from their shops. Gopal and Hakim alleged it was the temple committee members who had vandalised the idol. Kalibari Temple's General Secretary Pranab Kumar Vanu said the temple committee and rice traders were fighting in court over the land. “The rice traders attacked and vandalised the temple and the idol,” he claimed, adding that some of the attackers were Hindus. “It was not a communal attack,” Pranab said. [iframe id="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IqTVw8meVk0"]