Local administration imposed section 144, which restricts movement, in Rashik Lal Jeu Temple area at Madarganj village in Thakurgaon sadar upazila yesterday after two rival groups installed idols to celebrate Durga puja there.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Asraful Islam imposed the ban apprehending a  clash between two rival groups, one followers of Sanatan Hindu  devotees and another loyal to International Society for Krishno Consciousness (Iscon).
Local sources said the Iscon followers first came to the temple on August 2 in 2009 and started staying there.
Ignoring the temple committee’s notice to leave the place, they announced a darmasabha (religious gathering) at the temple on September 4 and tried to establish a branch of the organisation there.
On September 18 in 2009, a group of Iscon men stormed the house of Prafulla Chandra, president of Rashik Roy Jeu temple, and injured 15 people.
One of the victims, Fulbabu, 27, brother of Prafulla Chandra, died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital the same day.
Following the dispute, the two groups set up idols at different places in the temple area to offer Durga puja.
Fearing clash there, leaders of district unit of Puja Udjapan Parishad urged the local administration to take necessary steps in this connection, said Arunagshu Datta, district unit president of Puja Udjapan Parishad.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Asraful Islam said the administration imposed 144 in the temple area to avert untoward incident.   
The UNO said after Durga puja measures will be taken to solve the crisis.
Officer in Charge of Thakurgaon police station Moshiur Rahman said the situation is now under control and additional forces have already been deployed there to maintain law and order.