Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, July 6: The embers of communal passion and frenzy that has been sweeping Barak Valley for the last few days as a fall out of the conversion, marriage and assault on Rumi Nath, MLA seems not to extinguish. The Kalain mayhem and the attempts by criminals to damage a temple dedicated to Shani Dev not far from the scene of the bloody confrontation on Wednesday was followed by yet another act of sacrilege when in the wee hours of today, the dubious elements set on fire a Kali temple at Maijgram, five km away from the border town of Karimganj.

The flame drew the attention of some persons in the locality who raised an alarm. People still in sleep woke up and came rushing from all sides and joined together in extinguishing the fire. Fortunately, before much damage could be caused to the temple, the fire was put out. On receiving the information, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of Karimganj reached the spot with force and calmed down the agitated people. The sniffer dog of the police was also pressed into service.

The information from the village largely dominated by the Hindus and close to the Sutarkandi trade centre on Bangladesh border says that no arrest till the time of filing this report has been made. But, on the basis of available indications, the suspects behind the criminal offence have been identified and the police is confident of nabbing them. A peace committee at the initiative of the Deputy Commissioner has been formed with members from both the communities to maintain peace and harmony.