Mohammed Ilias, Lama Correspondent
Towhidi people of all levels of Lama upazila have held a protest meeting in light of vandalism of Cumilla Puja mandaps to protest against the desecration of Holy Quran. The protest was held on the road in front of Lama Bazar Upazila Parishad on Thursday.

Imam of Lama Court Jame Mosque Maulana Azizul Haque presided over the meeting. Mayor of Lama Municipality Md. Zahirul Islam, Imam of Lama Bazar Central Jame Mosque Maulana Md. Ibrahim were among others spoke at the occasion.

Immediately after the protest meeting, the people were asked to leave. They marched around Lama Bazar in front of the Upazila Parishad without listening to anyone.

At the end, they went to the corner of the fish market and started vandalism. Thousands of people vandalized the central Hari Mandir in and around Lama Bazar for about 3/4 hours.

More than 20 people including Lama Thana Police Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mizanur Rahman were injured. OC Lama was taken to CMCH for treatment, with many serious injuries, while the injured were admitted to Lama Government Hospital and Alingan Hospital. The army, police, Ansar and local people’s representatives are working to maintain law and order. Fifty blank shots (tear shells and rubber bullets) were fired by law enforcement to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Lama Upazila Chairman Mostafa Jamal, Lama Municipality Mayor Md Zahirul Islam and Lama Upazila Nirbahi Officer were on the ground to bring the situation under control. Prashant Bhattacharya, president of Lama Central Hari Mandir, said the attackers did not vandalize temple but my heart. Idols and statues have been smashed, the attackers have vandalized the homes and shops of our traditional religious people, and many of us have been injured.