Father hands son over to police for 'vandalising idol' at Lakshmipur temple

A man who allegedly vandalised an idol inside a temple in Lakshmipur has been handed over to the police by his father.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Zakir Hossain, was apprehended from a garden near the Maler Bari area in Raipur Upazila's Char Mohana Union on Friday, according to Lakshmipur's Assistant Superintendent of Police (Raipur Circle) Jamilul Haque.

The incident took place at the Shri Shri Mahamaya Temple on Thursday. After reviewing CCTV footage from outside the temple, police identified Zakir as the perpetrator.

Jamilul said that Zakir entered the temple in the Genjihata area of the municipal town that night and damaged an idol.

Vishwanath Saha, general secretary of the temple committee, said that after the evening puja rituals, the temple priest left. Later that night, local Hindu community members discovered the damaged idol.

CCTV footage revealed a man with his face covered by a handkerchief entering the temple, breaking the idol, and then leaving.

Zakir's father Monir Ahmed said, “My son has been suffering from mental health issues since 2018. I had him treated for some time, but due to financial constraints, I couldn’t continue his treatment. He entered a temple and broke an idol. Later, I, along with some local Chhatra Dal leaders and activists, detained him and handed him over to the police.”

ASP Jamilul said Zakir will be interrogated in police custody and further legal action will be taken accordingly.