An ISKCON temple at in Birbhum district of West Bengal was burnt down on Friday night, December 16. As per a Hindustan Times Bangla report, the temple in Kendragaria village, Khoyrasol block had been built just 2 months back. Locals say there had been attempts in the past also to burn the temple.

Local BJP MLA Anup Saha, who represents Dubrajpur constituency, said that an attempt was made to burn the ISKCON temple the previous Friday, December 9 also. But locals managed to extinguish that fire before it could damage the temple, although a nearby cowshed was burnt down. 

After the arson on December 9, a complaint was lodged with the police and it was demanded that they increase security of the temple. But the administration did not pay heed, which led to yet another attempt on December 16 and this time the anti-Hindu elements succeeded in destroying the temple.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s North Birbhum district secretary Saroj Sai said, “Saturday morning we got news that the ISKCON temple in Kendragoria has been burnt. But no one could say who started the fire. Attempts were made to burn the temple earlier too. The miscreants succeeded on Saturday night. We have lodged a police complaint”. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad blocked roads at 5 places in Birbhum on Saturday demanding a full investigation into the incident. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

Muslims constituted over 37% of Birbhum district population as per the last Census 2011 carried out 11 years back. The district is also the stronghold of jailed TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal who is being investigated for his role in cattle smuggling and lottery scams, and is also accused of rape & murder of political opponents.