Priests and temple workers in Jhenaidah in Bangladesh live in fear

For Hindu priests and temple workers in Jhenaidah, life is still one of fear and uncertainty.

Suliman NiloySuliman Niloybdnews24.com
Published : 26 July 2016, 02:34 PM
Updated : 26 July 2016, 02:34 PM

A month after two temple staffers were murdered within a month, police security has been beefed up to protect them and the devotees against militant attacks.

But that has failed to allay fears.

Fearing for their lives, some priests have even fled away to neighbouring India.

Sailapukur Kali temple priest Sona Sadhu and his counterpart at the Ramgopal temple have quit their jobs and left for India.

Ramgopal temple president Kalachan Saha confirmed that the priest at that temple has fled to India after finding someone to do his job.

Saha said that if things normalise, the priest may come back in the country.

Mothbari Kali temple priest Protap Chandra Saha said, “After the murder of the priest , the police came to our temple. They asked our priest to be careful as the temple they said is located at a remote place. That scared the priest and he fled to India.”

 On July 1, Shyamananda Das, 50, a priest at an Uttar Kashtogara village temple was murdered while he was collecting flowers for the morning service at the temple.

Prior to that, on June 7, Anondo Gopal Ganguli, 69, formerly the priest at Nolodanga Durga temple was murdered in a similar way.

Prisoners of fear

Meanwhile panic was perceptible not only among priests and other temple staffers, but even devotees seemed terrified.

Police contingents have been deployed at the temples and services are held with police barricades protecting the temples.

Once the service is over, the temples are shut while police stand guard protecting them.

At the Sri Sri Madanmohan temple here, two police personnel were standing vigil at the temple.

Police constable Ariful Islam said that a six-member police team under an ASI guards at the temple.

Temple priest Madan Ganguly said that the police vigil has not been able to allay the fears in the minds of priest and devotees.

“We’re living like prisoners. We fear to venture outside. If we receive a call from anyone’s house, we go accompanied by one or two policemen”, he said.

“Priests do not engage in any politics, so why are they attacked?” he asks.

A leading businessman of the locality on conditions of anonymity said: “We live in great terror. Who knows what happens and when. This distracts us and we cannot even concentrate on trade and business properly”.

Police Superintendent Altaf Hussain said: “We are taking all steps for the protection of priests and other temple staffers. Police protection is provided to all temples within the district, upazila and sub divisional levels where prayers are held daily.”

“Apart from that, various voluntary groups have been formed. These groups accompany the priests to the temple before the prayers and then escort them back”, he said.