Centre in Dhaka set afire: Iskcon

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Saturday alleged that its centre in Dhaka district in neighbouring Bangladesh was burnt down in the early hours of Saturday.

ISKCON Kolkata vice president Radharamn Das told Press Trust of India that the targeted attack on members of the community and members of the Vaishnavite order goes on unabated as "vandals set ablaze idols inside the temple at the Namhatta property."

While ISKCON Bangladesh said it was a "family temple" belonging to an ISKCON devotee, the organisation's Kolkata office said "ISKCON Namhatta Centre" was targeted. The attack in Dhour village, under Turag police station in Dhaka district, took place in the early hours of Saturday. A Turag police station official said a manhunt was launched to track down the culprits.

According to Charu Chandra Das Brahmachary, general secretary of ISKCON, Bangladesh, the temple was set on fire after lifting the tin roof. "The fire was, however, doused quickly but an idol was damaged and curtains burnt," he added.