Shantipur, a historic town, has suffered a wave of tension and grief after a large-scale vandalism involving religious idols was uncovered in the Nadia district of West Bengal. On the night of January 5, 2026, mysterious miscreants entered a local artisan's workshop near the Loknath Temple area, and destroyed dozens of idols, intended for upcoming festivals. The tragedy has cost heavily not only to the local craftsmen but has sparked a political and community firestorm in a state that is already experiencing complicated religious matters.
Details of the Incident
The vandalism occurred in the Sarva Nandipara area of Shantipur, at the workshop place of Jayanta Das, a renowned clay art maker, who has been making idols for nearly 30 years. According to reports, between 60 and 70 idols most of them of Goddess Kali and Goddess Saraswati were found broken and spread on the ground.
Icons Targets: Most of the idols that were destroyed were set prior to the upcoming Saraswati Puja (scheduled for January 23, 2026).
The Aftermath: Neighbors and local people who arrived on the scene early Jan. 6 said the site was a “graveyard of divinity,“ with broken limbs and severed heads of the deities covered the mud.
Economic Impact: This is months of labor for the artisans, and reportedly losses in the hundreds of thousands of rupees. In some cases, these idols were already booked at local clubs and schools.
A Political and Social Reception. And the news quickly spread, and the local residents and people in the Matua community, who live in Shantipur, protested massively.
Allegations from BJP:
Senior BJP leaders, such as Suvendu Adhikari, have condemned the act as a "direct attack on Sanatan Dharma." Adhikari said these repeated incidents in West Bengal are a consequence of State government "appeasement policies" and police administration inaction in taking strong action against perpetrators. He made comparisons to recent vandalism in some of Bangladesh’s neighboring districts and pointed out an escalating law-and-order situation in nearby districts like Nadia.
TMC’s stance:
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) counters these charges, citing the BJP as pursuing "vitiating the atmosphere," as well as making a criminal act communal for political purposes. Local TMC leaders have said peace would prevail and called on the public to wait until the police probe ends.
Police Investigate and Protect
The Shantipur Police have an FIR registered and have commenced their case-control.
CCTV Footage: The CCTV Cameras are now being scanned by the authorities close to Loknath temple and the entry ways to Shantipur to identify the group of miscreants.
Increasing Security: Added police forces have been deployed at highways, on major intersections and in the vicinity of Barowari (community) temple complexes within the Nadia district in order to avoid any communal flareup.
Forensic Investigation: The forensics team went to the workshop on January 7 to collect evidence for forensic analysis and to find out if the vandalism activity was an accident or a planned event to cause anarchy.
The Resilience of Shantipur
Shantipur, famous for its rich cultural heritage and famed Ras Utsav, traditionally served as a shrine. And though the community is heartbroken in pain, local elders and peace committees are working alongside the administration to ensure that the coming Saraswati Puja will be celebrated with the same zeal, no matter its setback.
