Jhowdanga culprits yet to be arrested

Since then, all religious rituals and preparations for the Durga Puja are now stopped at four temples in the area.

The decision to suspend religious activities was announced at a press conference held at Satkhira Reporters Club after the September 4 incident. The press conference was addressed by general secretary of Jhowdanga Crematorium Committee Biswanath Ghosh. In a written statement at the press conference, he alleged that some vested quarters were trying to occupy lands of the century-old crematorium at Jhowdanga. They are threatening the Hindu community not to worship at the temples.

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"A group of miscreants led by Riaz Uddin entered into the temple at Jhhowdanga Crematorium and assaulted priest Ashoke Kumar Mukherjee on September 4", he had said.

He also said that the Satkhira Deputy commissioner and the Police Superintendent were informed of the incident.

Yesterday, the Sadar thana officer-in-charge called priests and Hindu community leaders of Jhowdanga and sought time to arrest the miscreants. He also assured them security during Durga Puja, sources said.

Those who met the OC inlcuded Satkhira district Puja Udjapan Parishad president Monoranjan Ghosh, its general secretary Mongal Kumar Pal, Pranab Ghosh Bablu, Tapan Kumar Saha, Anit Mukherjee, Dhiru Banerjee, Asim Chakravarty, Milon Kumar Ghosh and Subhas Ghosh.