Seven dead after violence erupts during Hindu festival in Bangladesh

[cricketjoshila]

Deadly communal violence has broken out in Bangladesh after allegations of the desecration of an Islamic holy book led to dozens of Hindu temples being attacked and police opening fire on a crowd. At least seven people died in the disturbances.

The government deployed paramilitary troops to 22 districts after religious tensions and violence broke out in the city of Cumilla on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of four Muslims after police fired into crowds.

On Friday and Saturday, further communal violence erupted in the capital, Dhaka, as well as in the southern town of Begumganj. One Muslim and two Hindus died in these incidents, one from stab wounds.

The trouble was sparked by videos and allegations that spread across social media that a Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, had been placed on the knee of a statue of the Hindu god Hanuman, in a shrine set up for the Hindu holy festival of Durga Puja.

Hindu temple volunteer hacked to death in Bangladesh, say police
After the video went viral on Facebook earlier this week, mobs of more than 500 people gathered in Cumilla and neighbouring districts over the alleged blasphemy. About 10 Hindu temples and shrines were attacked and vandalised by the crowds, who threw stones and smashed statues of the Hindu gods.

In Cumilla, police shot teargas and fired on the crowds. Dozens were injured, including several police officers.

The anti-Hindu violence continued into Friday and Saturday. More than 80 special shrines set up for the Durga Puja festival were attacked, with about 150 Hindus injured and two killed.

On Friday the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, promised severe action in response. “The incidents in Cumilla are being thoroughly investigated,” said Hasina. “Nobody will be spared. It doesn’t matter which religion they belong to. They will be hunted down and punished.”

Md Faridul Haque Khan, the state minister for religious affairs, said the incident involving the Qur’an would be investigated but added that communal harmony should be protected and urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

Obaidul Quader, a minister with the ruling Awami League government, visited a Hindu shrine in the aftermath of the violence. He said “fanatic elements” were responsible for the attacks on the Hindu festival, adding that the government would “not let them proceed with their evil design”.

The Bangladesh Hindu Unity Council said in a tweet that it “could not publish” what had happened over the past 24 hours, but stated that “the Hindus of Bangladesh saw the real faces of some people. We don’t know what will happen in the future. But the Hindus of Bangladesh will never forget Durga Puja in 2021.”

Hindu religious leaders alleged the attacks were part of a conspiracy to attack their community. Hindus make up 10% of the Muslim-majority country.

In August, four Hindu temples were attacked in the country’s Khulna district and in March, during a visit by the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, hardline Islamist groups attacked Hindu shrines.

The initial trouble prompted outrage in neighbouring Hindu-majority India.

On Thursday, the Indian government spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, described the incident as “disturbing” and said officials were in communication with the Bangladesh authorities about the attacks.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...olence-erupts-at-hindu-festival-in-bangladesh

 

[cricketjoshila]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It is with great grief that we share the news of a ISKCON member, Partha Das, who was brutally killed yesterday by a mob of over 200 people. His body was found in a pond next to the temple.<br><br>We call on the Govt of Bangladesh for immediate action in this regard. <a href="https://t.co/BLwqGsN36h">https://t.co/BLwqGsN36h</a></p>— ISKCON (@iskcon) <a href="https://twitter.com/iskcon/status/1449190442323513347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

On Friday the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, promised severe action in response. “The incidents in Cumilla are being thoroughly investigated,” said Hasina. “Nobody will be spared. It doesn’t matter which religion they belong to. They will be hunted down and punished.”

I feel confident that the Bangladeshi authorities will arrest and punish those responsible for these attacks. Their politicians dont spread hatred against Bangladeshi Hindus.

 

[street cricketer]

Bangladesh has always fascinated me as a case study. On one hand, I've always felt it had a lot more syncretic culture in contrast to Pakistan. You could see many Bangladeshi muslim women sporting the bindi even during their marriages and in general day to day life and, unlike the Punjabi muslims and Punjabi sikhs/hindus who developed different scripts for their language, the Bangladeshis maintained the same Bengali script as it is used by the Bengalis in India and remained steadfast in using it. I've even come across many hindu (bengali) sounding muslim names in Bangladesh (Indonesia is another country where I've observed this phenomenon) and I'm sure the hindus in Bangladesh might be visiting the dargahs of muslim saints as it happens in India. I actually think this is one of the primary differences between Pakistanis and Bangladeshis where the hindu-muslim syncretism is lot more seen in Bangladeshi culture as compared to Pakistan, which developed a separate pure islamic culture on its own with only little hindu cultural influences, be it the script of their languages, the way people dress and live. And it probably was one of the factors which contributed to the split between East and West Pakistan.

At the same time, there has been a gradual shift towards islamist fundamentalism happening in Bangladesh, just as hindutva fundamentalism grew in India with the rise of Modi. News of hacking of atheist bloggers, secular activists became common a few years back, which of course culminated in the infamous holey artisan bakery attack against non muslims. In the same way, cases of lynching of muslims and riots against muslims grew in number in India with the rise of hindutva nationalism. One key difference is that unlike Pakistan and India, which are ruled by leaders with a heavy religious slant to their views, Bangladesh has been under the rule of a secular dictator of sorts in Hasina for a long time, who heavily cracked down on jamaati islamists in her country and even hanged many of its leaders. Still, the Bangladeshi public haven't become immune to religious polarisation in spite of being under a secular leader and I'm reading news about hindu temples being ransacked in increasing frequency every month.

Ultimately I believe majoritarianism runs deep in Pakistan, the hindi speaking regions of India (and I include Maharashtra in it as well) and Bangladesh, as a result of them developing in the same polarised environment from times starting pre partition. Partition riots happened in Lahore, Amritsar, Calcutta, Noakhali and was spread out in these regions. The hindus and muslims almost see each other as enemies in these regions as a result of long running religious polarisation and what recent incidents tell me is that even secular leaders cannot do much in the face of deep religious chauvinism and polarisation existing in the population. South India has always developed in a separate environment and culture and therefore majoritarian bigotry is a lot less in these regions on communal lines. Still it has made its way into Karnataka and I'm afraid the other regions in south india might fall prey to majoritarian religious polarisation too, if not immediately, but in the distant future. I hope the remaining regions hold out against religious polarisation and communal sentiments as long as possible though. Because south asia has been ravaged by religion for a long time and it doesn't need more religion, but less religion in the public sphere. Might be a controversial opinion, but ultimately I think south asia needs a Mao style cultural revolution, not in the sense of physical violence and destruction of property, but more a mental change in getting rid of religious baggage within the minds of people.

 

[PakLFC]

It is India's fault. This is a reaction to what Hindu's are doing to Muslim's in India.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Bangladesh has always fascinated me as a case study. On one hand, I've always felt it had a lot more syncretic culture in contrast to Pakistan. You could see many Bangladeshi muslim women sporting the bindi even during their marriages and in general day to day life and, unlike the Punjabi muslims and Punjabi sikhs/hindus who developed different scripts for their language, the Bangladeshis maintained the same Bengali script as it is used by the Bengalis in India and remained steadfast in using it. I've even come across many hindu (bengali) sounding muslim names in Bangladesh (Indonesia is another country where I've observed this phenomenon) and I'm sure the hindus in Bangladesh might be visiting the dargahs of muslim saints as it happens in India. I actually think this is one of the primary differences between Pakistanis and Bangladeshis where the hindu-muslim syncretism is lot more seen in Bangladeshi culture as compared to Pakistan, which developed a separate pure islamic culture on its own with only little hindu cultural influences, be it the script of their languages, the way people dress and live. And it probably was one of the factors which contributed to the split between East and West Pakistan.

At the same time, there has been a gradual shift towards islamist fundamentalism happening in Bangladesh, just as hindutva fundamentalism grew in India with the rise of Modi. News of hacking of atheist bloggers, secular activists became common a few years back, which of course culminated in the infamous holey artisan bakery attack against non muslims. In the same way, cases of lynching of muslims and riots against muslims grew in number in India with the rise of hindutva nationalism. One key difference is that unlike Pakistan and India, which are ruled by leaders with a heavy religious slant to their views, Bangladesh has been under the rule of a secular dictator of sorts in Hasina for a long time, who heavily cracked down on jamaati islamists in her country and even hanged many of its leaders. Still, the Bangladeshi public haven't become immune to religious polarisation in spite of being under a secular leader and I'm reading news about hindu temples being ransacked in increasing frequency every month.

Ultimately I believe majoritarianism runs deep in Pakistan, the hindi speaking regions of India (and I include Maharashtra in it as well) and Bangladesh, as a result of them developing in the same polarised environment from times starting pre partition. Partition riots happened in Lahore, Amritsar, Calcutta, Noakhali and was spread out in these regions. The hindus and muslims almost see each other as enemies in these regions as a result of long running religious polarisation and what recent incidents tell me is that even secular leaders cannot do much in the face of deep religious chauvinism and polarisation existing in the population. South India has always developed in a separate environment and culture and therefore majoritarian bigotry is a lot less in these regions on communal lines. Still it has made its way into Karnataka and I'm afraid the other regions in south india might fall prey to majoritarian religious polarisation too, if not immediately, but in the distant future. I hope the remaining regions hold out against religious polarisation and communal sentiments as long as possible though. Because south asia has been ravaged by religion for a long time and it doesn't need more religion, but less religion in the public sphere. Might be a controversial opinion, but ultimately I think south asia needs a Mao style cultural revolution, not in the sense of physical violence and destruction of property, but more a mental change in getting rid of religious baggage within the minds of people.

I can only laugh at your ignorance about bengali speaking muslims and their religious extremism.

The idea of a separate muslim country was very much embedded into them. The fact that there was widespread anti hindu riots on direct action day and following that is ample proof.

Do read what Gandhi had to say about them.

Hindu bengalis had to fight tooth and nail to separate west bengal as muslim bengalis wanted the entire bengal.

Post partition attacks on hindus continued and it was only during the 1970-71 year that they remembered bengali unity because they needed our help. And we hindu bengalis the fool that we are and our elites believing in bengali unity helped them.

The moment Bangladesh was formed, this unity attitude of bengali muslims disappeared with bd becoming a islamic nation.

Again the attacks on Hindus commenced and its continuing. Ambedkar in his writings described this attitude very aptly.

The biggest problem of Bengal was thst unlike Punjab, there was no complete partition in terms of population. In Punjab, Eastern side was left with very little muslim population and western side was left with very little sikh/ hindu population. It was not a chance happening but a deliberate bloody population exchange.

In bengal after partition east was left with close to 25 per cent hindu population and west had a similar muslim population and that became a problem. While hindus were persecuted and their population decreased in BD, in India under a secular govt there was a steady stream of illegal immigrants into Assam and Bengal. Indira Gandhi's law that made them citizens in 1971 was the precursor to the assam movement.

Rise of Modi and BJP lies in the continued oppression of hindus and the appeasement of muslims. Political parties always thought that hindus will be divided in caste based voting and hence they can appease muslims without any retaliation by hindus as their votes are divided. Modi has managed to bring most castes together and that isn't going to change.

Coming to south,

As you said Karnataka is already a Bjp ruled state.

AP is ruled by a Christian CM and honestly has very little muslim population to have any significant impact in electoral politics. But even then BJP has shown significant rise in votes.With Jagan showing signs of being influenced by christian missionaries and missionaries interfering in temples, a long term bjp gain isnt ruled out. But in near term BJP will be the number two party in AP

Telengana is the next Southern state that will fall to bjp. With AIMIM becoming increasingly active and Rohingyas being settled in hyderabad the hindus are getting polarized. TRS though is trying his best to balance. Even here BJP will become the 2nd largest political party.

Tamilnadu, how long will the Dravidian politics last with Jaya and Karunanidhi gone? Earlier the anti hindu politics of DMK was countered by Jaya who was a Brahmin. Now will the hindus keep tolerating the anti hindu Stalin? Or will they look for another alternative?

Yes the caste politics in TN at present isnt conducive to a BJP government but same was the case with UP and Bihar. All it took was 1 decade of muslim appeasement and a strong leader to unite the hindu castes and turn the tables. BJP will only gain in TN in future, if not as BJP then in another form.

Kerala, BJP is gaining significantly in Kerala. The muslim appeasement of CPIM has started polarization of the hindus. Even the christians are now getting wary of overt appeasement of Muslims and church is making statements against them.

In near term Bjp will either be the ruling party or main opposition in most states in India, except Kerala TN and Punjab.

 

[cricketjoshila]

It is India's fault. This is a reaction to what Hindu's are doing to Muslim's in India.

This has nothing to do with India.

So Bangladeshis will kill bangladeshis because of something happening in another country?

 

[PakLFC]

This has nothing to do with India.

So Bangladeshis will kill bangladeshis because of something happening in another country?

As explained when the Muslim's of Bangladesh see their coreligionists being killed and attacked in neighbouring India there will be a reaction too it. Hindu's in majority Muslim countries will be targeted as a result. This will spread to other Muslim majority countries too.

 

[cricketjoshila]

As explained when the Muslim's of Bangladesh see their coreligionists being killed and attacked in neighbouring India there will be a reaction too it. Hindu's in majority Muslim countries will be targeted as a result. This will spread to other Muslim majority countries too.

So muslims will kill their own countrymen hindus because of some issue in India?

 

[PakLFC]

So muslims will kill their own countrymen hindus because of some issue in India?

I am talking about the Muslim's of Bangladesh who killed Hindu's. This is partly because Hindu fanatics are killing Muslim's in India.

 

[smkk]

As a Bangladeshi I could only say that this is a very unfortunate events. Hopefully the main culprit who ever have placed the Holy Quran on the lap of the statue will be found immediately and bought to justice.

In Bangladesh, a huge debate have blown out on social and news media, regarding the identity and the purpose of the main culprit. The main political party is blaming the Jamat e Islam and other religious party as the main culprit.

The Islamic party on the other hand is saying that no muslim with sane mind, would ever place the holy Quran on the feet of the statue just to score a political gain. They on the other hand, blaming the main political party for the purpose shifting the international attention from their own incompetencies and their undemocratic and authorial practices.

No matter whoever is behind this incident, it is being noted by the intellectuals that Bangladesh is being thrown forcefully to the fire of religious extremism and intolerance for the past couple of years. The religious harmony that has been sustained for decades in the country is being tested repeatedly by some unwanted group inside or outside the country.

First through incitement of atheist blogger and now this incident, the muslim sentiment is being tested again and again, as if some one deliberately wants to incite communal violence in Bangladesh. This may sound like conspiracy theory, but this is happening way too many times to ignore now.

 

[cricketjoshila]

I am talking about the Muslim's of Bangladesh who killed Hindu's. This is partly because Hindu fanatics are killing Muslim's in India.

But why are Bangladeshis killing bangladeshis? Those people are not Indians?

 

[gani999]

I am talking about the Muslim's of Bangladesh who killed Hindu's. This is partly because Hindu fanatics are killing Muslim's in India.

So Hindu fanatics may be killing muslims in India because muslim fanatics in Pakistan and Bangladesh are killing hindus in their countries?

What's good for the goose....

 

[sweep_shot]

The trouble was sparked by videos and allegations that spread across social media that a Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, had been placed on the knee of a statue of the Hindu god Hanuman, in a shrine set up for the Hindu holy festival of Durga Puja.

So, this was the main reason.

I hope this is not true. Why would they put Quran there? That's blasphemous and disrespectful.

First task now is to find out whether this allegation is true.

 

[sweep_shot]

Some Bangladeshi non-Muslims have habits of saying/doing provocative things.

They should be more careful.

Nonetheless, I condemn violence against innocent people (doesn't matter which religion).

 

[Lonewarrior]

Insulting Qur'an, vandalizing protests at Puja Mandap in Comilla ( Picture in the link )

Extreme tension has erupted among local devout Muslims over the rescue of the Holy Qur'an from under the feet of a goddess at a puja mandapa in Comilla.

Police rushed to the spot after news broke that a Koran had been placed on the feet of an idol at a shrine in Nanuardighi area of Comilla around 10am on Wednesday.

https://paathok.news/141767



Sheikh Hasina warns India against ‘incidents’ that could affect Hindus in BD

DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed to hunt down those who vandalised some Hindu temples during Durga Puja celebrations.

Three people were killed and several others injured during clashes between Muslims and the police at Hajiganj sub-district in Chandpur, bordering Cumilla, on Wednesday, while a fourth person succumbed to his wounds later. In a virtual interaction with members of the Hindu community to mark Durga Puja, Hasina warned, "Nobody will be spared. It doesn’t matter which religion they belong to. They will be hunted down and punished."

However, Hasina also used the occasion to urge India to remain vigilant against escalation of any communal violence. We expect that nothing happens there (in India), which could influence any situation in Bangladesh affecting our Hindu community here,” Hasina said.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/900779-hasina-warns-india-against-incidents-that-could-affect-hindus-in-bd

https://www.bbc.com/bengali/news-58934642

 

[gani999]

Some Bangladeshi non-Muslims have habits of saying/doing provocative things.

They should be more careful.

Nonetheless, I condemn violence against innocent people (doesn't matter which religion).

If the hindus in question actually put the Holy Koran on Hanuman's feet then they deserve to be punished, for being rank stupid if for nothing else. If you insult the muslim holy book while living in a predominantly muslim country, you better be prepared to face the consequences.

That said, if these Bangladeshi Hindus are as arrogant, snooty and smug as some of the Indian Bengali hindus I know, then they deserve a kick on their backsides anyway.

 

[Vegitto1]

But why are Bangladeshis killing bangladeshis? Those people are not Indians?

Why do Indians kill Indians? Because they are Muslims.

Why did Bangladeshis kill Bangladeshis? Because they were Hindus

Why do Pakistanis kill Pakistanis? Because they are Hindus/ different sect

As long as we can find a reason to differentiate from on an another we can find reasons to kill.

I hope that gets through your head

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/dance-of-death-inside-iskcon-temple-on-friday-protests-outside-bangladesh-high-commissions-to-continue-radharaman-das/824252

Vice President of ISKCON, Kolkata, Radharaman Das has said that the cycle of violence in Bangladesh in the past few days haven’t stopped.

Speaking outside Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, he said that there was a dance of death inside the ISKCON temple on Friday.

Saying that protests outside Bangladesh High Commissions across the world will continue until the miscreants are punished, Das urged Prime Minister Modi to hold talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to end the cycle of violence.

Devotees from ISKCON Kolkata sang ‘bhajan’ and protested outside Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata today following the incident where an ISKCON temple in Noakhali, Bangladesh was vandalised and a devotee killed by a mob yesterday.

Bangladesh police booked over 4,000 named and unnamed people across three police stations for communal clashes in Dhaka after Friday prayers charging them with vandalism, assaulting security personnel’s, and obstruction of government duty.

On Saturday, Das had issued an appeal to the United Nations to send a delegation to Bangladesh over an attack on devotees.

ISKCON devotee Partha Das was brutally killed yesterday by a mob of over 200 people and his body was found in a pond next to the temple.

Reacting to the communal carnage in the neighbouring country, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta in a tweet said that the attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindus during Durga Puja appear to have increased in intensity.

“It is clear that jihadi elements have plotted to edge more Hindus out of the country,” he said.

Bangladesh Hindu Unity Council which has been reporting about the deadly communal clashes shared a news clip which talks about the rape of an entire Hindu family in the country.

“Finally, the news of the rape of a 10-year-old child was published. So far no media in Bangladesh has dared to cover the story of the rape of an entire Hindu family which has led to attempts to cover up the incident as a rumour. For the first time any news channel has shown the courage,” it said in a tweet.

According to a report by Dhaka Tribune, several temples and businesses owned by Hindus were vandalized and robbed during clashes in Feni that lasted from 4:30 pm to midnight.

Several other districts, including Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Moulvibazar, Gazipur, Chapainawabganj, and others, have reported similar situations over the last few days.

 

[moghul]

This has nothing to do with India.

So Bangladeshis will kill bangladeshis because of something happening in another country?

I thought you had better IQ to understand this.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Is India planning on inviting Hindus to live in Calcutta now?

 

[PakLFC]

But why are Bangladeshis killing bangladeshis? Those people are not Indians?

Coz there are many Hindu Bangladeshis as well. It is like why are Indian Hindu's killing Indian Muslim's when both groups are Indian?

 

[PakLFC]

So Hindu fanatics may be killing muslims in India because muslim fanatics in Pakistan and Bangladesh are killing hindus in their countries?

What's good for the goose....

No one said it is good but yes there is a violent reaction when people see their coreligionists being attacked next door. I hear that Hindu's living in the Middle East are becoming increasingly restless and afraid of being attacked too. The Muslim's killing Hindu's is a reaction to what is happening to their coreligionists in India.

 

[Balthazar]

Communal hate crimes in north India will definitely spread to other muslim nations. No minority will be safe, be it hindu, muslim or christian. The only way the south India can safeguard itself is through strong regional and linguistic sentiments.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Putting a Quran at the feet of an idol while being provocative is no justification for mob violence where innocents are indiscriminately killed.

 

[street cricketer]

I've got a nice bridge to sell to the people who believe hindus deliberately placed the Quran on the lap of Hanuman idol in a muslim majority country. Firstly hindus don't use the Quran in their worship and secondly, hindus are not stupid enough to do such an idiotic act even in India. Massive riots happened in Bangalore just last year after muslims were outraged on an objectionable post about Islam in facebook and Karnataka is a BJP ruled state in south india with 80% hindus. Being born and brought up in a muslim majority country, I'm sure the hindus in Bangladesh would know how religion is such a sensitive topic for muslims and they're not stupid enough to put themselves in danger by earning the wrath of the 90% population in a muslim majority country by desecrating the Quran in their biggest festival.

The subcontinent is a thoroughly messed up place and the majority in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India (atleast in northern India) are so brainwashed about religion that it's easy to mobilise the majority against a minority by using the blasphemy card. In our region, if there's an allegation of blasphemy against one's religion, people don't question whether it happened or who did it, but rather get outraged and attack the supposed culprits to vent their anger first and then investigation, if any happens afterwards. This is not something new and there has been cases of cow meat thrown near mosques in India intended to polarise the majority against muslims of that area.

What's likely is that after the recent events in Assam and the jarring incident when a photographer was filmed jumping on a dying man in an inhuman manner, some far right outfit in Bangladesh must have gotten outraged that their brothers in Assam are getting killed in ruthless manner while hindus in Bangladesh are celebrating Durga puja openly in a muslim majority country and probably decided to give it back to the hindus in their country. It's why I've always felt that while the hindutvadis commit violence and propagate hatred against innocent muslims in our country, the poor hindus in neighbouring nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh are the most unfortunate people as they are often at the receiving end of violence of the majority in their respective countries to avenge the crimes against muslims in India. This is not to say that hindus have had a good time in Pakistan and Bangladesh (before CJ bombs me in reply lol) and it's only the hindutva movement in India that's putting them in danger in recent times. They have always been persecuted to varying degrees in both countries but one can easily see how the hindutva ideology using poor muslims and Islam as a target for electoral gains can aggravate the condition of hindus in the neighbouring countries.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I've got a nice bridge to sell to the people who believe hindus deliberately placed the Quran on the lap of Hanuman idol in a muslim majority country. Firstly hindus don't use the Quran in their worship and secondly, hindus are not stupid enough to do such an idiotic act even in India. Massive riots happened in Bangalore just last year after muslims were outraged on an objectionable post about Islam in facebook and Karnataka is a BJP ruled state in south india with 80% hindus. Being born and brought up in a muslim majority country, I'm sure the hindus in Bangladesh would know how religion is such a sensitive topic for muslims and they're not stupid enough to put themselves in danger by earning the wrath of the 90% population in a muslim majority country by desecrating the Quran in their biggest festival.

The subcontinent is a thoroughly messed up place and the majority in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India (atleast in northern India) are so brainwashed about religion that it's easy to mobilise the majority against a minority by using the blasphemy card. In our region, if there's an allegation of blasphemy against one's religion, people don't question whether it happened or who did it, but rather get outraged and attack the supposed culprits to vent their anger first and then investigation, if any happens afterwards. This is not something new and there has been cases of cow meat thrown near mosques in India intended to polarise the majority against muslims of that area.

What's likely is that after the recent events in Assam and the jarring incident when a photographer was filmed jumping on a dying man in an inhuman manner, some far right outfit in Bangladesh must have gotten outraged that their brothers in Assam are getting killed in ruthless manner while hindus in Bangladesh are celebrating Durga puja openly in a muslim majority country and probably decided to give it back to the hindus in their country. It's why I've always felt that while the hindutvadis commit violence and propagate hatred against innocent muslims in our country, the poor hindus in neighbouring nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh are the most unfortunate people as they are often at the receiving end of violence of the majority in their respective countries to avenge the crimes against muslims in India. This is not to say that hindus have had a good time in Pakistan and Bangladesh (before CJ bombs me in reply lol) and it's only the hindutva movement in India that's putting them in danger in recent times. They have always been persecuted to varying degrees in both countries but one can easily see how the hindutva ideology using poor muslims and Islam as a target for electoral gains can aggravate the condition of hindus in the neighbouring countries.

It's an interesting hypothesis and sadly i agree that there is a knock-on effect on innocent and unrelated people that have nothing to do with the original events.

However, I disagree where you mention that some Hindus wouldn't be idiotic enough to do such acts. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to embolden a religious bigot. Hindutva movement next door will no doubt give a superiority complex to some Idiots in Bangladesh, similar to how it caused some hindu Indians in the UAE to think they were bigshots.

Religion is heavily weaponised in the SC and we can't apply normal logic to the behaviour of extremists.

 

[street cricketer]

It's an interesting hypothesis and sadly i agree that there is a knock-on effect on innocent and unrelated people that have nothing to do with the original events.

However, I disagree where you mention that some Hindus wouldn't be idiotic enough to do such acts. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to embolden a religious bigot. Hindutva movement next door will no doubt give a superiority complex to some Idiots in Bangladesh, similar to how it caused some hindu Indians in the UAE to think they were bigshots.

Religion is heavily weaponised in the SC and we can't apply normal logic to the behaviour of extremists.

It's not a hypothesis. This is common occurrence in the subcontinent. Use the religious sentiments of people to weaponise the majority against the minority.

Even a religious bigot would have common sense. Religious bigots would always operate from a position of strength, they can do so in a hindu majority country like India, but even a religious bigot would not do so in muslim majority country so openly when hindus are just 8% as opposed to a 90% muslim majority in Bangladesh, unless he is a masochist and enjoys violence on his own kind.

The UAE example is not comparable because they were done by Indians who moved to the UAE for work and were stupid enough to believe they could be islamophobic while working in arab nations like they are in India. Moreover, they posted objectionable stuff oonline and didn't do it in public.They only got caught because they got doxxed and the places where they work were made known of their history of posting objectionable stuff online. Bangladeshi hindus have been living in Bangladesh since their birth and they would know better to earn the wrath of their majority public. You could have a point if they posted similar stuff online but nobody would be stupid enough to do it in public.

Besides, if someone wanted to desecrate the Quran, he would have torn or burnt it in a separate place and filmed the video like some far right groups did in Europe. Why would he place the Quran on the lap of Hanuman in the biggest festival of the Bengali hindus, unless it was meant to instigate the religious sentiments of the majority to disrupt the biggest festival of the hindus and promotion of, what would be seen as idolatry (by whoever wanted to disrupt the festival) in their country. Like I said, this isn't something unique and there has been cases of cow meat randomly thrown outside mosques in India and one can easily imagine the intentions.

 

[Lonewarrior]

I've got a nice bridge to sell to the people who believe hindus deliberately placed the Quran on the lap of Hanuman idol in a muslim majority country. Firstly hindus don't use the Quran in their worship and secondly, hindus are not stupid enough to do such an idiotic act even in India. Massive riots happened in Bangalore just last year after muslims were outraged on an objectionable post about Islam in facebook and Karnataka is a BJP ruled state in south india with 80% hindus. Being born and brought up in a muslim majority country, I'm sure the hindus in Bangladesh would know how religion is such a sensitive topic for muslims and they're not stupid enough to put themselves in danger by earning the wrath of the 90% population in a muslim majority country by desecrating the Quran in their biggest festival.

The subcontinent is a thoroughly messed up place and the majority in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India (atleast in northern India) are so brainwashed about religion that it's easy to mobilise the majority against a minority by using the blasphemy card. In our region, if there's an allegation of blasphemy against one's religion, people don't question whether it happened or who did it, but rather get outraged and attack the supposed culprits to vent their anger first and then investigation, if any happens afterwards. This is not something new and there has been cases of cow meat thrown near mosques in India intended to polarise the majority against muslims of that area.

What's likely is that after the recent events in Assam and the jarring incident when a photographer was filmed jumping on a dying man in an inhuman manner, some far right outfit in Bangladesh must have gotten outraged that their brothers in Assam are getting killed in ruthless manner while hindus in Bangladesh are celebrating Durga puja openly in a muslim majority country and probably decided to give it back to the hindus in their country. It's why I've always felt that while the hindutvadis commit violence and propagate hatred against innocent muslims in our country, the poor hindus in neighbouring nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh are the most unfortunate people as they are often at the receiving end of violence of the majority in their respective countries to avenge the crimes against muslims in India. This is not to say that hindus have had a good time in Pakistan and Bangladesh (before CJ bombs me in reply lol) and it's only the hindutva movement in India that's putting them in danger in recent times. They have always been persecuted to varying degrees in both countries but one can easily see how the hindutva ideology using poor muslims and Islam as a target for electoral gains can aggravate the condition of hindus in the neighbouring countries.

see the link in post #16 ..... the pic is thre .....

 

[street cricketer]

see the link in post #16 ..... the pic is thre .....

Not sure how my post came across as denying that quran was ever placed on the lap of the idol. I saw the pictures long back, but is there any actual footage of a person keeping it there and if there indeed is, has anyone actually investigated the identity of the said person?

I can easily stroll to my nearby mosque and throw a copy of Bhagavad Gita on the floor and claim that the muslims did it, wouldn't make it true. It doesn't take much for a person to sneak a copy of Quran near the idol and take a picture of it with a motive to mobilise the majority against the minority. If someone really wanted to desecrate the Quran, he wouldn't do so by placing near the idol, just check videos of how far right wing groups in Europe do it. This might be weird for muslims to understand, but for hindus, placing something near the idol of a hindu deity, even if it was placed near the feet of the idol (which it wasn't btw), the said object would be seen as sacred too. Unless the hindus there intended to pray to the Quran as well during the Durga puja, it makes no sense.

 

[MenInG]

Dhaka: Amid ongoing communal violence in Bangladesh, nearly 20 houses belonging to Hindus were set ablaze while 66 others were vandalised by a group of more than 100 people in the neigbouring country over an alleged blasphemous social media post.

The incident that took place in Rangpur district late on Sunday comes days after several temples were vandalised during the Durga Puja celebrations in the country. The houses were damaged and torched by the mob after a Hindu man of the village shared a post on Facebook allegedly “dishonouring religion”.

“The incident took place after 10 pm yesterday but firefighters doused the blaze within a short period (and) the situation is now under full control,” Assistant Police Superintendent Mohammad Kamruzzaman said, PTI reported.

No casualties were reported in the incident, said the officer, adding as many as 52 suspects have been arrested so far.

Bangladesh has been witnessing widespread communal tension over an alleged blasphemy incident at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla last week that triggered clashes between vandals and the police in Cumilla, Chandpur, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Moulvibazar, Gazipur, Chapainawabganj, Feni and other districts.

Recently, two Hindu men were killed in the southern town of Begumganj after more than 200 protesters attacked a temple when Hindu devotees were performing the last rituals on the final day of Durga Puja, reported news agency AFP citing police.

In another incident, at least four people were killed after police opened fire when nearly 500 people attacked a Hindu temple in Hajiganj.

Last week, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a stern warning to those behind the communal violence and said that anyone involved in the attacks on Hindu temples and Durga Puja venues in Cumilla will not be spared irrespective of which religion they belong to.

https://www.timesnownews.com/intern...d-in-bangladesh-amid-communal-violence/824543

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Dhaka: Amid ongoing communal violence in Bangladesh, nearly 20 houses belonging to Hindus were set ablaze while 66 others were vandalised by a group of more than 100 people in the neigbouring country over an alleged blasphemous social media post.

The incident that took place in Rangpur district late on Sunday comes days after several temples were vandalised during the Durga Puja celebrations in the country. The houses were damaged and torched by the mob after a Hindu man of the village shared a post on Facebook allegedly “dishonouring religion”.

“The incident took place after 10 pm yesterday but firefighters doused the blaze within a short period (and) the situation is now under full control,” Assistant Police Superintendent Mohammad Kamruzzaman said, PTI reported.

No casualties were reported in the incident, said the officer, adding as many as 52 suspects have been arrested so far.

Bangladesh has been witnessing widespread communal tension over an alleged blasphemy incident at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla last week that triggered clashes between vandals and the police in Cumilla, Chandpur, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Moulvibazar, Gazipur, Chapainawabganj, Feni and other districts.

Recently, two Hindu men were killed in the southern town of Begumganj after more than 200 protesters attacked a temple when Hindu devotees were performing the last rituals on the final day of Durga Puja, reported news agency AFP citing police.

In another incident, at least four people were killed after police opened fire when nearly 500 people attacked a Hindu temple in Hajiganj.

Last week, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a stern warning to those behind the communal violence and said that anyone involved in the attacks on Hindu temples and Durga Puja venues in Cumilla will not be spared irrespective of which religion they belong to.

https://www.timesnownews.com/intern...d-in-bangladesh-amid-communal-violence/824543

Utterly shameful and the so called punishment is worse than the crime.

All this needed was a meeting between community leaders, instead we have so called defenders of the faith carrying put atrocities.

The real blasphemous activity is using Islam to instigate mob violence.

 

[Birdman]

Its funny how humans kill other humans to protect all mighty God who created the humans.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Its funny how humans kill other humans to protect all mighty God who created the humans.

They kill because they have an extremist mind, nothing more than criminals. Hardly religious.

There is also a wider issue here. Many have seen the rise of the Hindu far right in India, which is causing lynching, violence and abuse of Muslims all over India. Of course its wrong but this is also part of the reason for the backlash.

If the Bangladeshi government wasnt so in love with Modi, they could have eased tensions.

 

[street cricketer]

Cumilla mayhem: A chronicle of hate unleashed

Around 7:00am on October 13, a 30-year-old Ekram Hossain dialled 999 and reported to the police about an alleged defamation of the Holy Quran at Nanua Dighir Par puja mandap in Cumilla city.

Within minutes, the officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station showed up at the mandap in plainclothes. He went there alone.

Sometime between 7:00am and 7:30am, a man named Foyez Ahmed went live on Facebook from the site and urged people to wake up and protest the alleged defamation. He also showed OC Anwarul Azim in his 56-second live video.

Soon a few groups of young men got into the act. They started sharing the video on Facebook. By around 8:00am, people started streaming into the mandap. And within the next hour, the crowds swelled to their hundreds.

Meantime, Ward Councillor Emran Bachchu erected a bamboo fence around the mandap to keep the crowds from entering.

As the situation threatened to spiral out of control, Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Hasan and Superintendent of Police Faruk Ahmed arrived at the spot with 40 to 50 policemen sometime between 10:00am and 10:30am.

Monirul Haque Sakku, the mayor of Cumilla, who lives only 300 yards away from the mandap, was conspicuously absent at the site. Although people of the Hindu community implored him to visit the site and officials called him, he didn't arrive until around 10:00am.

The DC, SP, the councillor, a panel mayor named Syed Ahmed Sohel, and several imams of local mosques were trying to calm things down. But a group of six to seven young men, some wearing red sports jerseys, got into a fierce argument with them.

They demanded that worshipping be stopped right away, the idols be smashed into pieces, and the marquee pulled down. They chanted: "Bondho Bondho, Puja Bondho [stop worshipping]", "Legechhe Re Legechhe, Rokte Agun Legechhe [our blood has been set on fire]".

They kept whipping up a mob that started hurling stones at the mandap around 11:00. Meantime, the mob grew, and by 11:30, they started vandalising the mandap.

A few minutes later, additional police forces were called in. Policemen opened fire to disperse the crowds. Around 50 people received minor injuries. The DC, SP and the mayor took shelter at a nearby house during that time.

Chase and counter-chase between police and the crowds went on until 4:00pm.

Both Foyez and Ekram were arrested that morning and are now behind bars.

Between 12 noon and 2:00pm, processions from at least 10 areas on the outskirts of Cumilla marched to Pubali Chattar, considered the city centre. They fanned across the city and vandalised three temples -- Kalighat Tola, Chanmoyee Kalibari Mandir, Anandamoyee -- and 14 puja mandaps.

The Daily Star has pieced together the sequence of events after talking to at least 50 locals and watching over a dozen video clips.

Some clips show the processions being spearheaded mostly by teenagers. They went around vandalising temples and mandaps chanting blood-curdling slogans.

Achintyo Das Titu, general secretary of Cumilla City Puja Udjapan Parishad, said the mayhem started around 11:00am and went on until midnight. There were 91 puja mandaps in the city this year.

WHO ARE THE ATTACKERS?

Locals of Nanua Dighir Par, where it all started, said the attackers were outsiders and mostly teenagers. They came from the city outskirts.

Amanat Majumdar, 90, a resident of Majumdar Bari adjacent to Nanua Dighir Par, told The Daily Star that many locals tried their best to stop the attackers but failed, as they came like a deluge.

"Hindus are the majority in the neighbourhood we live in. But that never caused any problem for us. We have been living in harmony for over 100 years. In my entire life, I did not see any such incident in Cumilla," he said.

Another resident of the area, Islam Ahmed, said the alleged demeaning of Islam couldn't have been done by a Hindu person.

"It [the alleged demeaning of Quran] seems pre-planned. Some people might have done it to destroy harmony," he said.

Puja at Nanua Dighir Uttar Par Mandap has been held since 1990.

The Daily Star talked to the caretaker of a building a few yards away from the mandap to know what happened on the morning of Ashtami, the third day of Durga Puja.

"I joined duty at 7:00am every day. When I came here, I saw two women and two young men. One of the youths called 999 and the OC of Kotwali Police Station came within 20 minutes. As there is a curtain to prevent outsiders peering into the mandap, I did not see exactly what happened inside," he said.

Dozens of people gathered there after 7:00am, he added.

Ekram Hossain, who dialled 999, lives one and a half kilometres away from the spot, and Foyez Ahmed was an expatriate who came home from Saudi Arabia a year ago. He now owns two shops selling clothes and mobile accessories in Sattar Khan area of Cumilla city, said locals.

Ekram's mother Selina Akther told The Daily Star, "My son has gone astray. He left home after a fight in the family on October 12. On October 13, we learned police arrested him."

Supervisor of the mandap told The Daily Star that he left the mandap at 2:30am on October 13 after wrapping up worship formalities. At 7:30am, he came to know over the phone that someone placed the Holy Quran at the pantheon of Ghanesh.

"I immediately informed the high-ups of the puja committee. When I reached the mandap, I saw the OC and two people talking. A crowd soon gathered on the west and east sides of the Dighi [pond]," he said.

"Given the bonding and harmony between Hindus and Muslims in our area, no CCTV was installed at the mandap. we never thought extra security would be needed. Some people took the opportunity," he added.

MAYOR ARRIVED LATE

Contacted, Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku said, "I usually get up at 8:00am. I could not receive a call from the OC at 7:00am."

He said the OC requested him to come to the spot when he called him back at 8:00am.

"I said it would take me an hour and half to come. In the meantime, some of the puja committee members came to my house and described the incident. I requested them to stay at the spot. I went there around 9:30am. There were 100 to 150 people. I requested them to stay calm, tried to convince the crowd in the presence of DC and SP, but in vain.

"At one stage, as the situation started deteriorating, I called 40 workers from the city corporation and removed what remained of the mandap. There was no CCTV though I asked the puja committee to set up some."

Asked why he came so late even though he lived so close, he could not say anything clearly.

"I had to get up, bathe, dress up and step out of home and it all takes time," he said.

DELAYED POLICE ACTION

The Kotwali OC reached the spot alone between 7:00am and 7:30am. The SP went to there around 10:00am. The attack started at 11:00am. In between, the mob grew bigger and got organised.

After the attack, Rab forces and additional police forces dispersed the attackers.

Asked why it took four hours to draft in more forces, Faruk Ahmed, SP of Cumilla, said they had enough forces to contain the situation and then he declined to elaborate on the issue.

Anwarul Azim, Kotwali OC, told The Daily Star both Ekram and Foyez, who were on the spot before the others, have been arrested.

"We are trying to glean information on why they went there so early and the motive behind the Facebook live," he said.

Asked why he could not stop the man from filming him and the mandap, he told the correspondents, "Collect information, but don't ask any question."

Police filed four cases and Rab filed one case over the attacks. One case was filed for hurting religious sentiment, one under Digital Security Act while two others under Special Powers Act.

Police said they have arrested 39 people as of 16 October.

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/chronicle-hate-unleashed-2200801

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strange coincidence that the pandal where the allegations of blasphemy was circulated on social media had no CCTV and therefore nobody can actually check any footage of who placed the Quran near the idol.

 

[Birdman]

It will be ridiculous to clump all Bangladeshis for acts done by few rogues. They used the play book of the Nazis and Southern Whites in the US. Create a story that is emotional to the locals and use it to attack others. It will take years for Sub Continent population to change their mob mentality.

 

[Jeetlodil]

Indian PM was in Bangladesh sometime back stating they are good friends? What has changed suddenly

 

[Birdman]

Indian PM was in Bangladesh sometime back stating they are good friends? What has changed suddenly

How does Indian Prime Minister's statement have anything to do with a deranged guys starting a religious riot? India and Bangladesh are still friends at State level. India has our own crazies to deal with.

 

[Jeetlodil]

How does Indian Prime Minister's statement have anything to do with a deranged guys starting a religious riot? India and Bangladesh are still friends at State level. India has our own crazies to deal with.

State friends need to solve such issues by talking. There is complete silence from the Indian side on this

 

[OMB]

‘Burn effigy of jihadist terrorism’: Hindu Parishad to stage protest in Delhi tomorrow over Bangladesh attacks

The Vishva Hindu Parishad said that the atrocities on minority communities by “radical Islamic jihadists” in Bangladesh is only comparable to the brutalities of the Nazis.

Amid unrest in Bangladesh due to attacks on minority communities in the country, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) will stage a demonstration outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday, according to a press statement issued by the organisation. “Along with this, outrage demonstrations will be held at district places across Bharat,” the statement added.

The VHP said that the demonstrations will comprise burning of effigies of “jihadist terrorism and memorandum to Mahanabim.” Quoting its central joint general secretary, Surendra Jain, the statement added that the atrocities committed on Hindus by “radical Islamic jihadists and fundamentalists” can only be compared with the brutality of the Nazis. The organisation also called for the United Nations to send a peace keeping force to Bangladesh in order to put an end to the violent attacks on Hindus.

“The VHP warns the Bangladesh government that if they want to stand in the line of developing countries, they will have to break free from their radical image. Extremists will have to be dealt with in the same manner as was done in 1971,” the statement read.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) said on Tuesday that it was planning to hold a day-long global protest on October 23 over the attacks.

The attacks in the neighbouring country began last week over an alleged viral video of a Quran placed on the knee of Goddess Durga’s idol at a puja pandal in Bangladesh’s Comilla. The array of attacks continued unabated in the country with a mob torching nearly 65 houses on Sunday night, leading to at least 20 houses getting completely destroyed.

Police in Bangladesh have booked over 4,000 people in connection to the attacks and charged them with vandalism, obstruction of government duty and assaulting security forces, Dhaka Tribune reported.

In the aftermath of the attack at the Durga Puja pandal, many Hindu temples in multiple locations were destroyed in the Muslim-majority nation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised strict action over the attacks, saying that “nobody will be spared” and the accused will be “hunted down and punished.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hindu-parishad-to-stage-protest-in-delhi-on-oct-20-over-bangladesh-attacks-101634653167890.html

 

[cricketjoshila]

Police: Comilla resident Iqbal placed the Quran on a Puja idol


https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...ho-placed-the-quran-on-a-puja-idol-identified

So a muslim guy deliberately placec the Quran near the idol and started this whole new series of attacks on Hindus.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Police: Comilla resident Iqbal placed the Quran on a Puja idol


https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...ho-placed-the-quran-on-a-puja-idol-identified

So a muslim guy deliberately placec the Quran near the idol and started this whole new series of attacks on Hindus.

This is unfortunately usually the case in blasphemy issues. Unfortunately by the time things are revealed people have been senselessly murdered.

This was a catastrophic failure of law and order in Bangladesh.

 

[street cricketer]

Police: Comilla resident Iqbal placed the Quran on a Puja idol


https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...ho-placed-the-quran-on-a-puja-idol-identified

So a muslim guy deliberately placec the Quran near the idol and started this whole new series of attacks on Hindus.

This didn't need an astrophysicist to work it out. I said it the minute I read the report. The clumsily placed copy of the Quran on the lap of the Hanuman idol said it all, no Hindu is going to do it during Durga puja. If a hindu really wanted to desecrate the Quran, there are a hundred worse ways to do it. This had the look of a planned pogrom from the start.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star reporting that a certain Iqbal Hossain placed the Holy Quran on the lap of the idol, he even stole and vandalized stuff inside the mandap. CCTV footage caught him doing these acts. Does this count as blasphemy? Pity so many innocents had to pay with their lives because of this and some posters here tried to blame the victims.

 

[Dios]

Bangladesh arrests Iqbal Hossain, key suspect in anti-Hindu violence

Police have arrested Iqbal Hossain, who allegedly placed a copy of the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla, a perceived act of sacrilege that triggered deadly violence against Hindus across the country.

The man was arrested at Cox’s Bazar sea beach about 10 pm on Thursday, said Rafiqul Islam, additional superintendent of police of the district. The Cox’s Bazar police prepared to turn Iqbal over to Cumilla police, he said.

Faruque Ahmed, SP of Cumilla police, said they were checking whether the arrested man was actually the key suspect, Iqbal.

Police officials in Cumilla said Iqbal, 35, son of Noor Mohammad Alam of Khanqah Mazar neighbourhood in the city’s Sujanagar, had worked as a painter.

Police on Wednesday said they have identified from security camera footage the young man who “placed the copy of the Quran” at the puja venue in the city’s Nanua Dighir Par in the wee hours of Oct 13.

The temporary puja venue did not have a CCTV camera, but footage from a security camera at a nearby house showed a young man walking towards the puja venue after leaving the Darogabari shrine of Shah Abdullah Gazipuri after 2 am.

Footage shows the man carrying something that resembles a book.

On his way back from the puja venue at 3:12 am, he was seen carrying a replica of Gada, or mace, a weapon of Hindu god Hanuman. Locals said they found a copy of the Quran in the lap of Hanuman, a central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana, but his weapon was missing.

The Kotwali Police Station chief recovered the copy of the Quran after getting a call via the 999 national helpline. Police later arrested the man who published on Facebook a video of the officer with the Quran.

Several temples and puja venues in the city came under attack in the afternoon as tension mounted after the video went viral. Many shared the video calling for attacks on Hindu sites alleging sacrilege.

Police said seven people died as communal violence spread to other parts of Bangladesh. The law enforcers have arrested 450 people in 72 cases over the attacks and clashes.

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/202...sts-key-suspect-in-cumilla-anti-hindu-attacks

 

[Justcrazy]

So muslims will kill their own countrymen hindus because of some issue in India?

Every action has its reaction. That is why I say that Modi will go down as instigator of murders of a huge chunk population. The man is pure evil a sick man down the core.

 

[Justcrazy]

Its funny how humans kill other humans to protect all mighty God who created the humans.

God does not need protection, neither God approves of all this. The muslims who are doing these will be punished on the judgement day , because they have no authority to create chaos in the society.

 

[Justcrazy]

Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star reporting that a certain Iqbal Hossain placed the Holy Quran on the lap of the idol, he even stole and vandalized stuff inside the mandap. CCTV footage caught him doing these acts. Does this count as blasphemy? Pity so many innocents had to pay with their lives because of this and some posters here tried to blame the victims.

This guy should be hanged publically.

 

[sweep_shot]

Bangladesh arrests Iqbal Hossain, key suspect in anti-Hindu violence

Police have arrested Iqbal Hossain, who allegedly placed a copy of the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla, a perceived act of sacrilege that triggered deadly violence against Hindus across the country.

The man was arrested at Cox’s Bazar sea beach about 10 pm on Thursday, said Rafiqul Islam, additional superintendent of police of the district. The Cox’s Bazar police prepared to turn Iqbal over to Cumilla police, he said.

Faruque Ahmed, SP of Cumilla police, said they were checking whether the arrested man was actually the key suspect, Iqbal.

Police officials in Cumilla said Iqbal, 35, son of Noor Mohammad Alam of Khanqah Mazar neighbourhood in the city’s Sujanagar, had worked as a painter.

Police on Wednesday said they have identified from security camera footage the young man who “placed the copy of the Quran” at the puja venue in the city’s Nanua Dighir Par in the wee hours of Oct 13.

The temporary puja venue did not have a CCTV camera, but footage from a security camera at a nearby house showed a young man walking towards the puja venue after leaving the Darogabari shrine of Shah Abdullah Gazipuri after 2 am.

Footage shows the man carrying something that resembles a book.

On his way back from the puja venue at 3:12 am, he was seen carrying a replica of Gada, or mace, a weapon of Hindu god Hanuman. Locals said they found a copy of the Quran in the lap of Hanuman, a central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana, but his weapon was missing.

The Kotwali Police Station chief recovered the copy of the Quran after getting a call via the 999 national helpline. Police later arrested the man who published on Facebook a video of the officer with the Quran.

Several temples and puja venues in the city came under attack in the afternoon as tension mounted after the video went viral. Many shared the video calling for attacks on Hindu sites alleging sacrilege.

Police said seven people died as communal violence spread to other parts of Bangladesh. The law enforcers have arrested 450 people in 72 cases over the attacks and clashes.

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/202...sts-key-suspect-in-cumilla-anti-hindu-attacks

This guy should be punished (if found guilty). He caused a big mess.

 

[Technics 1210]

Must be tough being half Bangladeshi (Muslim) and half Indian (Hindu).

 

[cricketjoshila]

Man wanted for Comilla unrest seen in CCTV video with shrine attendants

New CCTV footage seen by Dhaka Tribune shows Iqbal Hossain, the man believed to have placed the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Comilla, causing a week of attacks on Bangladesh's Hindu minority, meeting with two caretakers of a local shrine on the night of the incident.

It appears as though the trio met, and that a Quran, believed to be the same holy book used later, was placed in the shrine.

The fallout from that action led to a week of violent attacks on the Hindu community and seven deaths, including of two Hindus. Iqbal, believed to be a vagrant, has yet to be apprehended.

The two caretakers of Darogabari shrine – Hafez Humayun and Faisal – were identified by its chief custodian Ahmedunnabi Mashuk

After a brief meeting inside the mosque – run by the shrine authorities – at 11pm on October 12, Hafez Humayun kept the Quran in a closet while Iqbal was seen leaving the mosque.

Another footage circulated on Wednesday shows Iqbal collecting the Quran from the mosque after several hours, at 2:12am. He then walked outside and placed the Quran on the lap of an idol, Hanuman, at the temporary Durga Puja venue in Nanuardighi.

Iqbal’s name was disclosed by the police on Wednesday, but he could not be arrested as of Thursday evening.

Previous CCTV footage showed Iqbal moving out of the mosque and coming back from the Puja pavilion with the club of Hanuman, a central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Thursday said that police were unable to locate Iqbal since “he is not using his phone now. But he will be arrested soon”.


Screengrab from security camera footage shows a man leaving with a book from a local mosque in the early hours of October 13, 2020 Dhaka Tribune

Kamal suspects that there may be some instigators behind it. "After his detention, those behind the incident can be found."

On October 13, local resident Iqram Hossain called 999 to report that a Quran had been placed at the Puja venue.



Kotwali police Officer-in-Charge Anwarul Azim reached the scene in plainclothes within a few minutes of receiving the call.

Meanwhile, another local, Foyez Ahmed, streamed the whole thing live on Facebook and revealed the OC’s identity while he was briefing a high-level official over the matter.

The video then went viral on several groups, triggering protests.

Foyez was arrested by the police and is being interrogated in custody.

Several temples and puja venues in the city came under attack in the afternoon as tension mounted after the video went viral. Many shared the video calling for attacks on Hindu sites on allegations of sacrilege.



Police filed four cases over the Comilla incident and arrested at least 41 people.

‘Iqbal is a drug addict’

Family members say Iqbal spent most of his time at various local shrines. He was a drug addict and under the influence of drugs harassed neighbours as well as put psychological pressure on his family members.

The son of fish trader Nur Ahmed Alam, Iqbal lives in the city’s Sujanagar area and is the eldest among five siblings.


Screengrab from security camera footage shows a man, whom the police identified as Iqbal Hossain, walking away with a club from the Nanuardighi Durga Puja venue in Comilla on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Dhaka Tribune
“He became a drug addict when he was 15,” says Amena Begum, Iqbal’s mother.

She said Iqbal had been mentally torturing family members and harassing people on the streets under the influence of drugs.

A yaba-addict, Iqbal spent most of his time in shrines, especially the one in Akhaura, she said.

Amena says her son became mentally unstable following an incident where he was stabbed 10 years ago.

“People used to think of him as a thief and beat him up,” she said before adding that she recently heard from the local councilor that he had walked away with a club from the idols at the puja pavilion.

Also Read - Another case filed over Comilla temple vandalism

According to Iqbal’s younger brother Rayhan, police have been looking for his brother since Friday.

He says Iqbal might have done it at someone else’s incitement, and if he is indeed guilty, he should be brought to justice.

“I turned him out of the house 13 days ago because he slaughtered five ducks with a blade,” said Iqbal’s grandmother Rahima Begum.

Comilla City Corporation ward 17 Councilor Syed Sohel said that Iqbal used to stay near his office most of the time.

“I have known him for the last 10 years. He sometimes worked as a painter and sometimes as a daily wage worker,” said Sohel.

According to him, there were several complaints about him and the locals were exasperated with him but he did not have any political affiliation.

He further said that Iqbal became mentally unstable after his first wife, with whom he has a child, left him.

“I think some people took advantage of his mental condition and made him do it,” he said.





https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...o-supplied-quran-to-iqbal-seen-in-new-footage

So a well planned consipracy hatched at local mosque to attack the minorities.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

^^ If true then the mosque custodians are the real blasphemers and deserve the death penalty.

 

[MenInG]

Indian security forces guarded mosques in the northeastern state of Tripura Wednesday after right-wing groups attacked Muslim targets in apparent revenge for deadly violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Authorities have banned gatherings of more than four people in the most tense northern parts of the state while police have issued warnings about "provocative messages" spreading on social media.

Tripura has a 850-kilometre (525 miles) long border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh, where seven people were killed when a mob ransacked a Hindu temple this month. The riots spread to 12 districts in Bangladesh.

India has expressed concern at the attacks and troubles erupted in Tripura on the sidelines of a rally of hundreds of followers of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad group.

Read more: No end to Muslim suffering in Modi’s India

At least four mosques were vandalised and shops and homes owned by Muslims were ransacked.

Tripura is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Leaders of India's minority Muslim community say they have increasingly faced attacks since the Hindu nationalist party came to power in 2014.

 

[Savitar]

As usual, a Bengali here won't say much about that.

 

[Savitar]

VHP, an affiliate of RSS, should be declared a terrorist organisation.

 

[street cricketer]

Indian security forces guarded mosques in the northeastern state of Tripura Wednesday after right-wing groups attacked Muslim targets in apparent revenge for deadly violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Authorities have banned gatherings of more than four people in the most tense northern parts of the state while police have issued warnings about "provocative messages" spreading on social media.

Tripura has a 850-kilometre (525 miles) long border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh, where seven people were killed when a mob ransacked a Hindu temple this month. The riots spread to 12 districts in Bangladesh.

India has expressed concern at the attacks and troubles erupted in Tripura on the sidelines of a rally of hundreds of followers of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad group.

Read more: No end to Muslim suffering in Modi’s India

At least four mosques were vandalised and shops and homes owned by Muslims were ransacked.

Tripura is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Leaders of India's minority Muslim community say they have increasingly faced attacks since the Hindu nationalist party came to power in 2014.

This is despicable and the notion of taking revenge against innocent people for something that happened in another country is the lowest of low.

Unfortunately , Tripura is also one of the states in the north east where there is extensive anti bengali sentiment and anti muslim sentiment due to the migration of Bangladeshis into the region and this situation is ripe for hindutva activists to take advantage of.

 

[PakLFC]

The mainstream Indian media is hiding what is going on in Tripura. I fear another Gujarat like scenario frpm some twenty years back may develop again. India is turning in to a very intolerant country nowadays. I know Pak is not much better either before someone points it out. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021...reedom-uscirf-muslims-minorities-bjp-modi-cpc

 

[sweep_shot]

Very concerning.

No innocent should be harmed (doesn't matter which religion).

 

[cricketjoshila]

Though posters here tried to justify the attack on hindus in BD as retaliation to alleged attacks on Muslims in India.

I wholeheartedly condemn any attack on Indian muslims as retaliation to the BD incident.

Any retaliation must be on BD and not Indians. Protest and force the Indian government to issue shoot at site for any illegal immigrant at the Indo BD border.

Demand immediate identification and deportation of any illegal bangladeshi immigrant.

Demand that hiring or keeping illegal immigrants be made a cognizable offence.

Do not vote for parties who support illegal immigrants.

Its absolutely foolish and stupid to attack your own countrymen because of what happened in some other country. It just makes no damn sense.

 

[MenInG]

NEW DELHI: Dozens of people, many from Hindu right-wing groups, were arrested on Friday in India for disrupting Muslim prayer gatherings, local media reported, in the latest sign of growing religious tensions in the country.

Hindu groups have been pressuring authorities for weeks in the northern city of Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi to stop Muslims from offering Friday prayers in open spaces.

On Friday police deployed several hundred extra personnel and arrested at least 30 people as crowds of locals and Hindu groups chanted slogans, local media reported.

Critics have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of persecuting minorities, including India’s 200-million-strong Muslim population.

Modi’s government rejects having a Hindu agenda and insists that people of all religions have equal rights. Haryana state, of which Gurgaon — also called Gurugram — is the capital, is ruled by the BJP.

This is not the first time such an incident has been reported in the city, home to scores of multinational companies.

In 2018, many from the majority Hindu community raised similar objections to Muslims praying in the open. District officials mediated between the communities and identified around 35 open spaces for Muslims to offer Friday prayers.

Many of those detained on Friday held up placards that read “Gurgaon administration, wake up from your sleep”, NDTV television channel reported.

Images on social media showed a group of mostly unmasked people demanding the prayers be stopped. Others chanted “Jai Shri Ram”, a rallying cry for Hindu nationalists.

Tensions were high also in parts of northeastern Tripura state on Friday after a string of attacks against minority Muslims, seen as retaliation for the violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh earlier this month.

State authorities deployed police and paramilitary troops and banned the assembly of more than five people in areas where attacks were reported. Police said at least one mosque, several shops and homes belonging to Muslims in the northern part of the state had been vandalised since Tuesday.

“Some troublemakers are hell-bent on disturbing peace and communal harmony in Tripura,” said Senior Police Officer Bhanupada Chakraborty.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021