Protests Erupt in Assam Following Lynching of Hindu Man in Bangladesh
Widespread Outrage in Assam
Guwahati, Dec 23: Protests have surged throughout Assam in response to the lynching of a Hindu individual by a mob in Bangladesh, igniting significant anger regarding the treatment of minority Hindus in the neighboring nation.
The victim, identified as Dipu Chandra Das, was killed in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh, on December 18. This tragic event has led to demonstrations in various locations across Assam, including Sonitpur, Bijni, Jagiroad, Hojai, Lahorighat, Margherita, Hailakandi, and Nalbari.
Protesters have denounced the violence against minorities, burned effigies, and called for decisive diplomatic and political action.
In Dhekiajuli, members of the All Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) organized a protest, condemning what they termed as “brutal violence and oppression” against Hindus in Bangladesh.
During the demonstration, an effigy of Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, was set ablaze, with demands for the protection of minority Hindus.
“We urge the Bangladesh government to immediately stop the attacks and ensure a dignified existence for our Hindu brothers,” stated one protester, who also called on the Indian government to take action against Bangladeshi leaders for remarks seen as antagonistic towards the Northeast.
In Bijni, the Bengali Parishad held a protest and condemnation event outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they described the lynching as a severe act of religious violence and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, demanding the death penalty for the perpetrators.
Uttam Tarafdar, president of the Parishad’s Chirang district committee, labeled the killing a serious violation of human rights and urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Prime Minister to take stringent measures against such acts.
In Jagiroad, members of the Parishad organized a large procession, adorning an effigy of Yunus with slippers before setting it on fire, chanting slogans against the Bangladesh government.
Similar protests occurred in Lanka, Hojai district, near the No. 2 Railway Gate flyover, with hundreds participating.
In Lahorighat, members of the Ujoni Asom Muslim Parishad burned an effigy representing the interim government of Bangladesh.
“We denounce the persecution of minority groups in Bangladesh. Muhammad Yunus should be stripped of the Nobel Peace Prize,” declared a protester.
In Margherita, a protest near the market area involved burning an effigy of Yunus and the Bangladesh flag, with similar demonstrations taking place in Lidu.
In Hailakandi, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the killing, demanding the protection of minority rights and calling for a boycott of Bangladeshi products.
In Nalbari, activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal held protests, alleging that Das was burned alive and demanding the release of Hindu saint Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu.
Protests were also reported in parts of Delhi on Tuesday, where various Hindu organizations demonstrated outside the Bangladesh High Commission, seeking justice for Das and protection for minorities in Bangladesh.
Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth from Bhaluka in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, was reportedly lynched by a mob on December 18. This incident has heightened concerns regarding the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh and has triggered protests across several Indian states.