Police in Bangladesh have detained at least 300 suspects for attacking and vandalizing Hindu temples in various parts of the country following unrest triggered by the reported desecration of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, during a Hindu religious ritual last week, law enforcement sources said Monday.
Violence erupted across Bangladesh after a photo was widely circulated on social media Wednesday showing the Quran placed on the knee of a Hindu deity during celebrations for the Durga Puja festival in the east-central district of Comilla.
Angry mobs attacked Hindu temples and clashed with police in various areas amid the unrest in the following days, leaving at least five dead and more than 100 injured.
At least 35 Hindu temples in several districts, mostly Comilla and the port city of Chattogram, have been reportedly attacked, raising communal tensions.
Police have filed 50 cases, including in the capital Dhaka, charging at least 10,000 people in connection with the incidents.
