Temples vandalised in Brahmanbaria

Five temples have been vandalised in a Brahmanbaria village following allegation that a Hindu man had defamed Prophet Muhammad on Facebook, police say.

The temples – Loknath Mandir, Kali Mandir, Ramthakurer Mandir, Doyamoy Mandir, and Anukul Thakurer Mandir – are located at Lalpur village in Ashuganj Upazila.

Police have detained three Lalpur residents – Md Babul Mia, 21, Md Rasel Mia, 20, and Md Jewel Mia, 18 – for the attacks.

A case is being filed over the incident.

Ashuganj police OC Abu Zafar said a band of men vandalised one Debashish Das Sohel's house in Lalpur on Wednesday claiming he had made derogatory comments on Prophet Muhammad on Facebook.

Sohel was accused in a case under the ICT Act and was detained the same night.

Zafar added a group of stick-wielding men vandalised five temples in Lalpur on Friday night over the alleged defamation.

Dilip Dasgupta, a local, said some people brandishing sticks took out a procession in the village on Friday evening.

"They attacked the five temples simultaneously later in the night," he said.