Satkhira: The priest and two management committee members of a Kali Temple in Satkhira were threatened with murder if they did not stop puja.

The temple authorities at Hazrapara of Kholishkhali union at Tala upazila on Saturday received a threatening letter jointly sent by militant organisation Islamic State (IS) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

The letter, addressed to temple priest Tapan Chatterjee, was read: ‘We have chosen this way to protect Islam. Islam is being smashed across the world. Followers of Sanatan Dharma [Hinduism] and foreigners and their local agents are backing the devastation. So the Hindus must stop pujas. If they don’t, they will be slain. No puja observance will be tolerated at Kholishkhali in Satkhira. No regular puja will be held at Hazrapara Temple; and Tapan Chatterjee, Mohan Chatterjee and Somnath Lahiri will be hacked to death if they perform puja. We will be the first to raise the flag of Islam in Satkhira. JMB (IS).’   

Among the persons Mohan Chatterjee and Somnath Lahiri are two members of the temple management committee.

This incident spread panic among the Hindus in the area. Later, Tapan’s son Mithun Chatterjee filed a general diary with the Patkelghata police.

Additional police superintendent Mir Modasser Ali visited the area. He told NTV, ‘This threat is probably issued by some miscreants. They will be identified and caught soon to be tried.’

Kholishkhali union chairman Mozaffar Rahman said he would always be with the Hindu to protect them.