Author: Statesman News Service
Publication: The Statesman
Date: December 27, 2002
Criminals went on the rampage at
a Bharat Sevashram Sangha temple here today and damaged the altar, an idol
of Krishna and some artefacts. Temple staff caught one of them, Afzal Haq,
and handed him over to police.
The SP (Murshidabad), Mr Virendra,
said: "A youth vandalised the temple... He was arrested." But BSS members
said police were trying to play down the motive behind the attack by claiming
that the arrested youth was a lunatic. "When we captured and later questioned
him, he admitted that he had been motivated to set the temple on fire,"
said a temple employee. Eye-witnesses said a bottle of kerosene and a bicycle
were seized from him.
Investigating officer Mr Ashis Mukherjee
said: "The man had gone to the Chandradeep Mahila Ashray (a local dispute
redressal cell backed by police) for divorce. He may have been under mental
pressure. But the motive can be confirmed after a probe."
An eyewitness, Mr Abhijit Bhattacharya,
said: "The incident took place around 8 a.m." A mason spotted the criminals."
Temple chief Swami Pradiptananda,
said: "Beldanga has turned into an ISI hub and this attack was by ISI agents
to divide Hindus and Muslims."
