The mob that attacked the ISKCON temple in Noakhali, Bangladesh was at least 500-strong and brutally set upon priests and devotees alike, witnesses said.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, ISKCON member Anukul Govinda Das described the violence and destruction that played out at the temple in Noakhali on Friday.

“A mob of around 500 people broke the locked gate and attacked the temple, the priests and devotees. They entered and ransacked the rooms, shattered glass and manhandled the priests,” Anukul Govinda Das said.

One devotee, who was on the ghats and couldn’t escape to safety, was beaten up and murdered, his body was thrown into the pond, he said. The man’s body was pulled out of the pond on Saturday morning and he was identified as 26-year-old Pranta Chandra Das.

“One of our brahmachari, Nimai Krishna Das, was wounded so badly on the head that he had to get around 30 stitches. He is hospitalised and in a serious condition,” Anukul Govinda Das said.

Inside the temple precinct, the attackers had set fire indiscriminately. Videos filmed by witnesses showed several motorcycles, raths and statuary were found gutted.

In the wake of the attack on the ISKCON temple, prohibitory orders have been imposed in Noakhali district.

On Friday, ISKCON issued a statement, saying, “ISKCON temple and devotees were violently attacked today by a mob in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Temple suffered significant damage and the condition of a devotee remains critical. We call on the Government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of all Hindus and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The vandalism at the ISKCON temple is the latest in the series of attacks on Hindu places of worship in Bangladesh this week. Several local media reports claimed that Durga Puja pandals and idols were vandalised in Bangladesh.

Violence erupted after news spread on social media that the Quran was allegedly desecrated at a Durga Puja pandal near Nanuar Dighi lake in Comilla town.

Following the Comilla violence, incidents of vandalism were also reported from temples in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali and Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua.

Paramilitary forces were deployed in 22 districts after four people died in the ensuing violence while several others were injured, as per Bangladeshi media reports.

Reacting to the incidents, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the Bangladesh government promptly reacted to ensure that the situation was under control.