‘MILITANT THREAT’

Security beefed up in Barisal Hindu temples

Acting on a threat letter—purportedly from militants—the Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) has deployed forces at all temples of the city to ensure the security of worshippers. Dulal Vartargee, a priest at Pashanmoyee Kalimata temple on Kalibari Road, found a threat letter in front of the main gate of the temple, apparently from militants. He filed a general diary at the local Kotwali model police station under BMP. The letter-writer(s) threatened to kill all those who worship at temples with the help of a BNP and an Awami League leader. The letter said that police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) would not be able to control them.
The BMP then beefed up security at all the 81 temples of the city. This correspondent found Hindu priests offering prayers under police watch.
Swami Bijitatmananda, maharaj of Barisal Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, and Taposhi Das Brahmachari, secretary of ISKCON Radha-Shyamsundar Mandir, said they were spending days in terror of a militant attack. They said it was extremely unfortunate to have to pray under police watch.
Suronjit Datta Litu, the secretary of Barisal City Unit Puja Udjapon Committee, demanded strong security to protect the Hindus of the city.
Md Farhad Sardar, the spokesman for BMP and assistant commissioner of Barisal Detective Branch Police, said over 400 uniformed and plainclothes policemen have been deployed all over the city to control any adverse situation. Policemen have been deployed in all the 81 temples of the city since Friday night.

MILITANT THREAT

Security beefed up in Barisal Hindu temples

Acting on a threat letterpurportedly from militantsthe Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) has deployed forces at all temples of the city to ensure the security of worshippers. Dulal Vartargee, a priest at Pashanmoyee Kalimata temple on Kalibari Road, found a threat letter in front of the main gate of the temple, apparently from militants. He filed a general diary at the local Kotwali model police station under BMP. The letter-writer(s) threatened to kill all those who worship at temples with the help of a BNP and an Awami League leader. The letter said that police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) would not be able to control them. The BMP then beefed up security at all the 81 temples of the city. This correspondent found Hindu priests offering prayers under police watch. Swami Bijitatmananda, maharaj of Barisal Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, and Taposhi Das Brahmachari, secretary of ISKCON Radha-Shyamsundar Mandir, said they were spending days in terror of a militant attack. They said it was extremely unfortunate to have to pray under police watch. Suronjit Datta Litu, the secretary of Barisal City Unit Puja Udjapon Committee, demanded strong security to protect the Hindus of the city. Md Farhad Sardar, the spokesman for BMP and assistant commissioner of Barisal Detective Branch Police, said over 400 uniformed and plainclothes policemen have been deployed all over the city to control any adverse situation. Policemen have been deployed in all the 81 temples of the city since Friday night.