Protests Erupt in New Delhi Over Lynching of Hindu Man in Bangladesh
Protests Near Bangladesh High Commission
On December 23, in New Delhi, a large group of VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters gathered to protest against the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh. The demonstrators, waving saffron flags and chanting slogans, clashed with police as they attempted to breach barricades near the heavily secured Bangladesh High Commission.
The protest saw hundreds of participants pushing through multiple barricades, overwhelming police efforts to maintain order. In anticipation of the protest, security measures had been significantly heightened in the area.
Participants displayed numerous banners and placards, many of which contained strong messages condemning the actions of the Bangladeshi government. One notable placard stated, "Each drop of blood of a Hindu must be accounted for."
The area was fortified with three layers of barricades, along with increased police and paramilitary presence.
"A Hindu man was brutally assaulted and killed. We urge our government to take decisive action against those responsible for this crime. We also demand that the Bangladeshi police act against the perpetrators," one protester expressed.
Another protester added, “In India, we regard every community as our brothers and sisters. Likewise, every Hindu in any nation deserves the same treatment.”
In response to the protests, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh. This meeting was prompted by rising concerns regarding the safety of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India.
Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary, Asad Alam Siam, summoned Verma, as reported by Prothomalo.com. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement indicating that India’s cooperation was needed to prevent the attackers involved in the assault on Inquilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi from escaping to India.
Diplomatic sources noted that Verma was requested to enhance security measures for Bangladeshi missions across India, including those in New Delhi and Kolkata.
This incident marks the second time in ten days that Verma has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a previous meeting occurring on December 14.
During the interim government's tenure, the Bangladeshi envoy has been summoned at least six times regarding various incidents.
On December 18, a 25-year-old garment worker named Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob and his body was burned over alleged blasphemy in Baluka, Mymensingh. Reports indicate that Das was initially attacked outside his workplace due to blasphemy accusations, subsequently hanged from a tree, and later left on the roadside before being set ablaze.