Agartala, December 20:
Amid heightened regional tensions, members of the Sanatani Hindu Sena on Saturday staged a protest in front of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office in Agartala, condemning the alleged lynching of a Hindu man in neighbouring Bangladesh and accusing the authorities there of failing to protect religious minorities.
The protest was held in response to the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh city of Bangladesh. According to the protesters, Das was allegedly lynched by a mob over accusations of blasphemy, and his body was reportedly set on fire after the attack. The incident has sparked outrage among Hindu organisations in Tripura, who termed it a grave violation of human rights.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the demonstrators alleged that the killing was not an isolated incident but part of a continuing pattern of violence against minority communities in Bangladesh. They also raised slogans against the present Bangladesh government, accusing it of failing to ensure the safety and dignity of religious minorities.
As the protesters attempted to move closer to the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office, security personnel stopped them at the Circuit House area. A large contingent of police and other security forces was deployed to prevent any breach of security and to maintain law and order in the sensitive zone.
Addressing the gathering, Gautam Laskar, district president of the Sanatani Hindu Sena, alleged that Hindus in Bangladesh were being repeatedly targeted and subjected to violence. He also claimed that similar acts of intolerance were being witnessed in certain parts of India as well. Referring specifically to the Mymensingh incident, Laskar questioned the “complete lack of humanity” involved in the killing, describing it as a brutal and inhumane act against a member of the minority community.
Laskar stated that despite deep anger over such incidents, the protesters deliberately maintained peace and refrained from any form of violence. However, he warned that continued attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh must stop immediately, asserting that persistent inaction could provoke stronger reactions in the future.
The protest concluded peacefully under tight security arrangements, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to ensure calm prevailed in the area.
