Eight newly made idols of Hindu gods and goddesses were vandalised in northern Bangladesh today, prompting police to launch an investigation.
Police said unidentified persons broke into the Sarbojanin puja 'mandap' at Chandrakala village in Natore district early this morning and disfigured the idols of Durga, Lakshmi, Ganesh and Kartik.
The incident occurred as the Hindu minority was gearing up to celebrate its biggest festival - Durga Puja - next week.
Today is being observed by the community as Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of Durga Puja.
Police are trying to arrest the persons involved in the vandalism and a three-member committee has been formed to probe the incident, said Aslam Hossain, officer-in-charge of the local police station.
Narayan Chandra Karmaker, general secretary of the puja committee, came to the 'pandal' at 4 am and found the deities badly damaged, police were quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.
Karmaker informed local residents and called police.
In September, eight idols of Hindu gods and goddesses were vandalised in Bogra and Munshiganj districts.
