Tension gripped Birganj upazila of Dinajpur district following an alleged attack on an indigenous Janajatiya community and the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Ghorabanda village under Poltapur Union.

According to local sources, a group of approximately 150 to 200 Islamists, reportedly led by Rezaul, son of Kader, and Azad, son of Azgar Sahaji, carried out the attack in the Sonka Christian Para area. The Islamists allegedly vandalized a Kali temple located at a cremation ground belonging to the Janajatiya community, breaking the Murti of Goddess Kali and discarding it in a nearby cornfield.

The incident is believed to be linked to an attempt to seize land belonging to the indigenous Janajatiya community’s burial ground. 

Following the incident, the group reportedly attempted to cut trees and seize land belonging to the indigenous Janajatiya community’s burial grounds. When the local residents resisted, tensions escalated.

Before cutting the trees, the attackers allegedly entered the house of Pius Murmu (45), son of Mangal Murmu, assaulted him, and set his house on fire in an attempt to create panic.

During the violence, a young man named Bishwanath, also known as Bhonda (30), son of Ganesh Soren, was shot in the chest with an arrow. He was later rescued in an injured condition and admitted to Birganj Health Complex for treatment.

Upon receiving the news, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Birganj Police Station, Saiful Islam, along with SI Jahangir Badsha Roni and SI Dinesh Roy, rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

The Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Birganj and Executive Magistrate, Dipankar Barman, also visited the site. Additional police forces have been deployed to maintain order.

OC Saiful Islam confirmed that at least one person was injured in connection with the incident.