Jhenidah’s panic-stricken priests dare not go outside | The Daily Star

Priests of different temples in the district are passing their days in panic since the murder of Hindu priest Ananda Gopal Ganguly on June 7.

On the day, Ganguly, 70, was hacked to death in Jhenidah Sadar upazila in a manner similar to previous killings by suspected militants.

After the incident, most of the priests of the district went into hiding, fearing attack on them.

There are 200 temples in six upazilas of the district, said Amalendu Biswas, president of Kaliganj upazila unit of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad.

Though law enforcers are ensuring them security following the killing, they fear fresh attack, he said.

Prafullah Kumar Sarkar, president of Sadar upazila unit of Puja Ujjapan Committee, said following the murder of Ganguly, many panic-stricken priests of the district town dare not come out of home even for puja purposes.

A Hindu devotee, Swarajit Biswas of Kali Mandir area in Kaliganj upazila, said “Fearing possible further attack by a gang, we cannot go to temple to perform puja most of the time.”

“We are in great danger as we became terrorists’ targets,” Ram Krishna Banarjee, priest of Naldanga Siddeshshari Mandir under Sadar upazila, said, adding that he will not go to temple until his security is ensured.

Another priest, Milon Maharaj of Radha Ballav Mandir in Moheshpur upazila, said, “I am an inhabitant of Magura. I have been performing puja at the temple for 22 years but my family members are now insisting me to leave this area, fearing further attack.”

Superintendent of Police Gopinath Kanjilal said they have already engaged a sub-inspector at each temple, besides plainclothes police.