Unidentified miscreants vandalised idols that were being prepared for Durga Puja at the Palpara Sri Sri Raksha Kali Temple in the Swarupdaha area of Kushtia's Mirpur upazila.
According to police, the incident is believed to have occurred between 8:00pm and 8:30pm on Sunday. However, local devotees are reportedly unwilling to file a case in this regard.
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman, RAB-12 Kushtia Camp Company Commander Sudipta Sarkar, and several local politicians visited the scene following the incident.
Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mominul Islam said that it had been raining in the area since evening, and the temple was unattended at the time of the incident.
"Miscreants may have committed the act during that time," he added.
He further mentioned that neither the temple's committee nor the Durga Puja organising committee wants to file a case against anyone specifically.
"We suggested filing a case against unknown suspects, but they did not agree," he added.
According to law enforcers and temple caretakers, miscreants damaged parts of two idols, breaking the arm and neck of Kartik, as well as the hand and crown of Saraswati.
The idols' accompanying animal mounts, including Kartik's peacock and Saraswati's swan, were also vandalised.
Temple Committee President Amaresh Ghosh said, "There was no electricity in the area at the time of the incident, and it was drizzling. Taking advantage of the situation, miscreants carried out the attack."
He further mentioned that the tin-roofed temple is usually guarded every day.
"But due to the electricity outage, the perpetrators found an opportunity. The Durga Puja is around the corner, and the clay work on the idols has just been completed. Painting was scheduled to begin Monday," he added.
Durga Puja will be celebrated from 28 September.
Temple Secretary Badal Kumar Dey said, "We have been organising Durga Puja festivities here for the past three years. This incident left us in fear."
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