Hindu priest hacked to death in Bangladesh

Dhaka, February 21

In the latest attack on religious minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu head priest was today hacked to death by suspected armed Islamists at a temple in an area bordering India. Two devotees were also injured.

In a predawn attack, motorbike-borne unidentified assailants hurled stones at the house of 50-year-old Jajneswar Roy on the premises of the Santagourhiyo Temple in northern Panchagarh district’s Debiganj Upazila.

“They (assailants) first hurled stones at the temple prompting him (Roy) to step out. The assailants then attacked him and slit his throat,” a devotee said.

Panchagarh police chief Giasuddin Ahmed, citing local people, said the head priest was preparing for the morning prayers when the attack took place.

The assailants injured two devotees as they fled the scene firing gunshots and hurling crude bombs to avoid being chased.

The injured included a neighbour who rushed to the spot to save the priest but was shot at, Ahmed said. At least nine persons, including two foreigners, have been killed in the past five months in systematic attacks on minorities and foreigners in the country. — PTI