IS claims murder of Hindu priest at Panchagarh: Intelligence group

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for killing a Hindu priest at Panchagarh, an intelligence group has said.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 21 Feb 2016, 04:00 PM
Updated : 21 Feb 2016, 07:11 PM

The US-based SITE Intelligence Group published the report after the execution-style killing of Jagneshwar Roy at Sonapota village on Sunday morning.

Islamic State made the claim in a statement issued through the Telegram messaging app and Twitter, Reuters reported.

"In a security operation facilitated by the almighty God, soldiers of the Caliphate liquidated the priest Jogeshwar Roy, the founder and head of the Deviganj temple that belongs to the infidel Hindus," the IS statement read in Arabic.

"One of his companions was hurt after being targeted with light weapons in the area of Panchagar in Northern Bangladesh, and the Mujahideen returned to their positions unharmed, and all praise be to God," it added.

The attackers, who arrived on a motorcycle, also shot and injured Gopal Chandra, a devotee who witnessed the murder.

They slit the throat of the 50-year-old, who headed the Santo Gaurio temple, after hacking him with sharp weapons. 

The SITE Intelligence Group had earlier reported that IS claimed responsibility for the murder of Japanese national Kunio Hoshi at Rangpur, the attack on a Shia mosque in Bogra and another on a Shia procession in Dhaka.  

But law-enforcing agencies and the government dismissed the claim, saying the Middle-East-based radical group had no presence in Bangladesh.
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she was under ‘pressure’ to admit IS presence in the country as ‘some international groups wanted to use Bangladesh as Afghanistan or Pakistan’.
 
After Sunday’s attack, Panchagarh Superintendent of Police Gias Uddin Ahmed said: “We are investigating who is behind the incident and what their motive is.” 
 
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin said it was the first such attack in the district.
 
“The assailants carried out the attack to destabilise the district’s peaceful environment,” he said.