New Delhi: A Hindu temple caretaker in southeastern Bangladesh was found dead three days after he went missing, with his body found hanging from a tree in a hilly area, according to police and locals.
The deceased, identified as Nayan Sadhu, 40, lived in the Dohazari area under Sthania Upazila in Chattogram district. He worked as a caretaker and priest at a Shivakali temple in Khurushkul union under Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila, as per the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
Police said two unidentified men took Nayan with them on the evening of April 19. His body was found three days later on the outskirts of the village. “We recovered the body when it had started getting decomposed,” an unnamed police official was quoted as saying by Kaler Kantha, as cited by PTI.
Uncertainty over cause of death
Authorities said it is not yet clear whether the death was a case of murder or suicide. The body has been sent for post mortem to determine the exact cause of death. An investigation began after the victim’s wife filed a missing person’s complaint on April 19.
Community raises concerns
Local community organisations have expressed concern over the incident. The Cox’s Bazar unit of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council said the circumstances suggested foul play.
Its general secretary Jony Dhar said the fact that the body was found days after Nayan went missing raised suspicion of murder. In a statement, the council demanded strict punishment for those responsible.
“The Unity Council strongly condemns the incident and demands immediate arrest and exemplary punishment against the perpetrators,” the forum said.
Questions over motive
Senior member of the Unity Council, Kajal Debnath, said it was difficult to understand the motive behind the killing. “We just cannot understand what could be the motive of killing an ordinary caretaker of a relatively small temple in a remote area,” he told PTI.
The incident comes amid concerns over communal tensions in the country. Earlier, the council had reported 133 incidents of communal violence in Bangladesh between January 1 and March 31 this year. Police said the investigation is ongoing and further details will emerge after the autopsy report.