Indigenous Buddhist novice found dead in monastery

A twelve years old Buddhist novice was found dead in a monastery in Chattogram’s Patiya on Friday evening.

The body of Gunuratna, a novice was found hanging at Charkanai Sarbojonin Ratnangkur Buddhist temple in Patiya on Friday said police.

“After getting the information we recovered the body and sent it to hospital for autopsy”, said Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Patiya police station.

“We are investigating whether it is suicidal incident or planned murder”, said the OC.

Gunuratna whose family name Safru Marma was hailed from Khagrachhari’s Guimara area went to Charkanai Sarbojonin Ratnangkur Buddhist temple around two weeks ago for better education, said family members.

“Why a twelve years old child commits suicide. The temple authority killed our son. They snatched our beloved child.” lamented Rimra Chai Marma, father of the victim.

Contacted, Jina Bangsha Thero, chief monk of Charkanai Sarbojonin Ratnangkur Buddhist temple said “I was not at the temple on Friday till evening. Around 7 pm I got a call from one of our members of the temple committee that novice Gunuratna was found hanging.”

The victim’s father Rimra Chai Marma father, while lamenting his son’s untimely death, repeatedly said that he did not want justice.

“Where would I seek justice? There is no justice here,” the inconsolable father lamented.