In Shorts
- Large crowds protested near Bangladesh missions in Delhi and Kolkata demanding justice for a lynched Hindu man.
- Demonstrators clashed with security forces as barricades were breached and heightened police presence tried to contain crowds.
- Diplomatic tension deepened as Bangladesh voiced concern over mission safety while India monitored unfolding events.
Hundreds of activists mobilised across Indian cities on Tuesday, converging near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to voice outrage over the recent lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh.
The protests were led by members of Hindu organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and allied groups. Demonstrators carried banners and flags, shouting slogans that demanded justice for the victim and accountability from authorities in Dhaka. In several instances, groups attempted to advance past police barriers, forcing security personnel to step up their presence with reinforced lines and additional resources to prevent participants from reaching the diplomatic compounds.
In New Delhi, officers erected multiple layers of barricades and deployed paramilitary forces after hundreds gathered near the Bangladesh High Commission. Some protesters briefly broke through initial barricades before being pushed back by law enforcement. Police also used transport buses and crowd control tactics to manage the march and keep the situation from intensifying within the diplomatic zone.
Similar scenes unfolded in Kolkata, where a procession under the banner ‘Hindu Hunkar Padayatra’ set out from Sealdah toward the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. Police halted progress in the Beckbagan area to prevent the march from reaching the mission’s vicinity. Large numbers of demonstrators continued to chant slogans critical of the neighbouring government and urged protection for minority communities.
The protests were triggered by the brutal killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, who was attacked and killed by a mob amid allegations of blasphemy. His death has sparked outrage in parts of India and renewed scrutiny on the safety of religious minorities across the border.
Amid the unrest, diplomatic friction has increased. Officials in Dhaka summoned India’s High Commissioner to express concern over security at Bangladesh’s diplomatic facilities in India, citing fears that protests could escalate into vandalism or threats against mission staff. Both governments are monitoring developments closely as public pressure and political sentiment continue to rise.
Security at the missions remains heightened as authorities seek to balance the right to protest with the need to protect diplomatic premises. With tensions simmering, the demonstrations are expected to have repercussions for bilateral relations in the coming days.
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