New Delhi: Alarmed by a series of attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh, India on Thursday, Oct 14, said that the Indian High Commission is in close contact with authorities in Bangladesh over the matter.
"We have seen some reports of attacks on religious gatherings in Bangladesh. We note that the Bangladesh government has reacted strongly to it. We also understand that Durga Puja celebrations continue in Bangladesh," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters at the weekly briefing here.
He also said: "Our High Commission is in close contact with authorities".
At least four people are feared killed and many others injured in mayhem in Bangladesh as unidentified miscreants attacked some temples there during Durga Puja celebrations.
Communal incidents have surged in Bangladesh in the last two days, with a spree of attacks on temples and pandals amid Durga Puja celebrations.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said tough action would be taken against the perpetrators, regardless of their religion. A Home ministry spokesperson in Dhaka said that the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) troops have been deployed in 22 districts across the country and the services of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been also enlisted.
At least 41 people were arrested following violence that reportedly left up to four dead and at least 60 injured.
The violence spread in Chandur areas where in a place called Hajiganj a large number of 'radical Muslims' attacked temples, while the puja was in progress forcing police open fire on the mob leaving at least four people dead, reports said.
Reports also said, this year the Hindu community, who make up less than 10 per cent of the country’s 160 million people, set up more than 33,000 puja pandals. However, rituals like Kumari Puja and immersion processions were curtailed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
BJP leader in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari. LoP state assembly, also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to take necessary and urgent steps to provide relief to the 'Sanatani People' of Bangladesh.
"The notorious vandals are habituated in targeting the 'Sanatani' minority community of Bangladesh. This time the religious fanatics took to the streets to vandalize several Durga Puja pandals and various temples also", he wrote.
India reacts with caution on China-Bhutan pact:
Meanwhile, India reacted with caution to Bhutan and China signing an agreement on a “three-step roadmap" to expedite negotiations to resolve boundary dispute.
“We have noted the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bhutan and China today. You are aware that Bhutan and China have been holding boundary negotiations since 1984. India has similarly been holding boundary negotiations with China," MEA spokesman Mr Bagchi said.
In a statement, Bhutan said its Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji and China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao have inked an MoU on the “three-step roadmap".
