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Hindu Priest Is Killed in Bangladesh, and Militant Islamists Are Suspected Militant Islamists Are Suspected in Slaying of Hindu Priest in Bangladesh
(about 7 hours later)
DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Hindu priest was hacked to death on Tuesday morning in southwestern Bangladesh, in what the police suspected was the latest in a series of killings by Islamist militants. DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Hindu priest was hacked to death on Tuesday morning in southwestern Bangladesh in what the police suspect is the latest in a series of killings by Islamist militants.
The priest, Anando Gopal Ganguly, 68, was riding a bicycle in an isolated rural area not far from his home when he was attacked by three men on a motorcycle who came up from behind him, said Gopinath Kanjilal, an assistant superintendent of police for the Jhenaidah district. He said Mr. Ganguly had been on his way to perform a prayer service. The priest, Anando Gopal Ganguly, 68, was riding a bicycle in an isolated rural area not far from his home when he was attacked by three men on a motorcycle who came up from behind him, said Gopinath Kanjilal, an assistant superintendent of the police for the Jhenaidah district. He said Mr. Ganguly had been on his way to conduct a prayer service.
“It seems the attackers were following the priest from his home and killed him at a convenient place,” Mr. Kanjilal said. Mr. Ganguly’s throat was slit, and he was “almost beheaded,” said Mr. Kanjilal, who said he suspected that Islamist militants were responsible. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the murder in a report by the group’s Amaq news agency, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online.
In recent years, Bangladesh has witnessed a series of similar killings. The initial targets were secular writers and intellectuals, but more recently the victims have included foreigners, gay activists and members of religious minorities. Islamist militants are suspected in many of the attacks, and their pace has appeared to accelerate in recent weeks. “It seems the attackers were following the priest from his home and killed him at a convenient place,” Mr. Kanjilal said. Mr. Ganguly’s throat was slit, and he was “almost beheaded,” said Mr. Kanjilal, who said he had suspected that Islamist militants were responsible.
In recent years, Bangladesh has had a series of similar killings. The initial targets were secular writers and intellectuals, but recently the victims have included foreigners, gay activists and members of religious minorities. Islamist militants are suspected in many of the attacks, which appear to have accelerated in recent weeks.
On Sunday, the wife of a police official known for pursuing Islamist militants was fatally stabbed and shot while taking her son to a school bus stop in Chittagong, in southern Bangladesh. Also on Sunday, in the country’s north, a Christian grocer was hacked to death.On Sunday, the wife of a police official known for pursuing Islamist militants was fatally stabbed and shot while taking her son to a school bus stop in Chittagong, in southern Bangladesh. Also on Sunday, in the country’s north, a Christian grocer was hacked to death.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, including the killing of Mr. Ganguly, while a branch of Al Qaeda has claimed others, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online. Officials in Bangladesh have denied that foreign Islamist militants have a presence in the country. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, while a branch of Al Qaeda has claimed others, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Officials in Bangladesh deny that foreign Islamist militants have a presence in the country.