Dhaka: Two Hindu men lost their lives in fresh communal violence in Bangladesh, cops said on Saturday. This took the number of deaths to six from recent unrest in the Muslim-majority country.
Protests started soon after footage emerged of a Quran being placed on the knee of a Hindu god during Durga Puja celebrations on Wednesday, reported news agency AFP. The minority community make up about 10 per cent of Bangladesh’s population.
According to police, the fresh violence took place in the southern town of Begumganj when Muslims in hundreds formed a street procession following Friday prayers on the final day of Durga Puja.
A temple was attacked by over 200 people where members of the Hindu community were preparing to perform the Visarjan of the 10-day festival, local police station chief Shah Imran informed reporters.
A temple committee member was beaten up badly and then stabbed to death.
“Two men have died since yesterday’s attack. We are working to find the culprits,” district police chief Shahidul Islam was quoted as saying by AFP.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a meeting with the leaders of the Hindu community on Thursday and vowed to take stern action.
“So far around 90 people have been arrested. We will also hunt down all the masterminds,” said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
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