SHILLONG, Jan 3: Unidentified miscreants have allegedly vandalised an idol of Goddess Kali at Boothnath Kali Mandir, Mawbah, on the intervening night of January 1 and 2.
Soon after the incident came to light, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Marwari Shamshan Bhumi filed separate FIRs with the Jhalupara Police Outpost in regard to the incident.
According to one of the FIRs, the incident has hurt sentiments. The police have been urged to investigate into the matter and arrest the culprits.
The priest of Boothnath Kali Mandir, however, said that this is not the first time that such an incident has occurred at the premises.
Meanwhile, State BJP president, Ernest Mawrie, who is planning to contest the election from West Shillong, also visited the area and took stock of the situation.
Mawrie said that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister to ensure security in the area, even as he pointed at the purported presence of drug addicts.
Taking note of the incident, the Central Puja Committee (CPC) also called on East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo to apprise her about the matter.
The CPC has demanded in black and white stern actions against the culprit(s).
The committee also stated that the administration has assured to take appropriate action in the matter in consultation with the Superintendent of Police and other stakeholders.
Moreover, the Shillong Bengali Association too has come out with strong condemnation of the incident, while urging the authorities to do a thorough time-bound investigation and book the culprits under relevant sections of law. “This kind of incident is highly condemnable and SBA requests the state government to take steps to prevent such kind of vandalism of religious places,” the association said.