Bengaluru shocker: Illegal Bangladeshi tries to damage idol at Venugopalaswamy temple; arrested

BENGALURU: Tension gripped Devarabishanahalli in the tech corridor on Tuesday morning after an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh allegedly attempted to damage an idol at Venugopalaswamy temple.The suspect, identified as Kabir Mondal, 45, a cobbler residing in the area for the past five years, was caught by local residents and handed over to police after being tied to a tree.According to police, at 8.30am, Kabir, who runs a roadside stall and lives in a labourers' shed with his wife and child, started behaving erratically near a medical store before running toward the temple premises. Witnesses said he tried to pour shoe polish on one of the idols near the temple entrance.

However, he was restrained before he could enter the sanctum sanctorum.

Deputy commissioner of police (Whitefield) K Prashurama said officers reached the spot promptly, rescued the man from the crowd, and took him to a hospital. After treatment, he was arrested and interrogated. Preliminary probe revealed that Kabir was under the influence of intoxicants, and his medical reports are awaited.Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for acts intended to defile a place of worship and promote enmity, as well as under the Foreigners Act for residing in India without valid documents. Probe is under way to verify his background, duration of stay in Bengaluru, and whether those who rented him accommodation were aware of his immigration status.