A 29-year-old man has been sent to prison after allegedly vandalizing deities at a Durga Puja pavilion in Balaganj, Sylhet, using a traditional cleaver (boti).
The incident unfolded on Saturday evening, between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, at the Nabinagar Sarbajanin Puja Mandap in Balaganj Paschim Bazar.
According to Sudip Paul, General Secretary of the temple committee, the suspect—identified as local resident Saiduzzaman Shimul—entered the mandap armed with a household cleaver and began hacking at the idols. The sharp weapon left visible damage on several deities, including Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Kartikeya. Local committee members rushed to the scene as soon as they heard about the attack and immediately contacted the authorities.
Police reacted swiftly, detaining Shimul shortly after the incident and seizing the cleaver used in the attack. Mohammad Abdul Latif Tarafdar, Officer-in-Charge of Balaganj Police Station, confirmed that Shimul confessed to his involvement during initial questioning.
Following a complaint filed by temple committee President Lal Mohan Das Nantu, police charged Shimul with damaging idols and hurting religious sentiments. He was presented before a local court on Sunday, where the judge remanded him to jail pending further legal proceedings.
