Guwahati: A peaceful protest outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala against alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh turned chaotic when a group of demonstrators stormed into the building and brought down the Bangladesh national flag, Tripura Police told ThePrint Monday.
A rally was taken out at about 2 pm by members of Hindu Sangharsh Samity—an affiliate of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)—near the Bangladesh assistant high commissioner’s office, demanding the immediate release of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Das, who was arrested by the Dhaka Police on 25 November.
Police said a group of about 50 people were staging a protest outside the high commissioner’s office when some “miscreants” barged into the premises and created trouble. Protesters chanted “Jai Shri Ram” slogans and carried placards that sounded caution to the Bangladesh government.
Speaking to ThePrint over phone, West Tripura district superintendent of police Kiran Kumar said the situation was brought under control within minutes.
“The situation is normal here. A few people went inside the high commission office, and brought down the flag of Bangladesh. We immediately drove them away,” said Kumar.
The VHP’s Tripura chapter has submitted a memorandum to the assistant high xommissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala, Arif Mohammad, over the issue of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
State BJP vice president Subal Bhowmik, who was part of the protest, told mediapersons that attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh were on the rise.
“We strongly condemn such acts. For a long time, and especially after the change in government in Bangladesh, these attacks have intensified. Today, we have assembled here under various organisations,” he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement Monday evening saying that the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission was “deeply regrettable”. “Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances,” it said.
Further, the ministry said the government had stepped up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and its Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in India.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)