Hindu Student Detained Over Vandalism at ISKCON Temple

Pabna District Correspondent

A university student named Prantho Kumar Das, 25, was caught red-handed for allegedly vandalizing idols and various structures at an ISKCON temple in Pabna town. The incident took place on Monday morning at the temple adjacent to Pabna Polytechnic Institute. Later, the temple authorities detained him and informed the police. Police went to the scene, rescued him, and took him to the police station.

Prantho Kumar Das is a second-year student in the Department of Statistics at Pabna University of Science and Technology. His home is in Sudhirpur area of Atrai upazila in Naogaon. Police and local sources said he is the son of Prashanta Chandra Mondal.

According to temple authorities and police sources, Prantho entered the temple after it was opened in the morning. After a while, he allegedly began vandalizing various structures and items inside the temple. At one point, idols were also vandalized. Sensing the incident, members of the temple authorities detained him at the scene. Several reports said that members of the temple authorities beat him after detaining him. Later, police went to the scene after being informed, rescued him, and took him to the police station. Questions have also been raised over the alleged act of taking the law into one’s own hands.

Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tariqul Islam told the Daily Inqilab that police learned that Prantho was mentally ill. Police claimed that after entering the temple, his mental problems worsened and he began vandalizing the premises. However, no medical documents or detailed information regarding his alleged mental illness were immediately disclosed.

Police said a case was filed against Prantho over the incident. He was later shown arrested and sent to court. Details about the sections of law applied in the case and the extent of damage to the temple were not immediately available.

The incident has caused a stir in Pabna. At the same time, those concerned said the actual motive behind the vandalism and the student’s mental state at the time of the incident would become clear through investigation.