New Delhi: Security was tightened near the Bangladesh High Commission on Thursday as members of various Hindu organisations staged a protest condemning the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh. Police stopped the demonstrators nearly 800 metres away from the diplomatic complex, using barricades and parked Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses to prevent them from advancing.
The protest site was filled with banners and placards criticising the Bangladesh government and alleging a failure to safeguard minority communities. Some placards carried strong messages demanding accountability for violence against Hindus.
The demonstration was sparked by the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, in Baluka area of Mymensingh district on December 18. According to Bangladeshi police, Das was attacked by a mob over allegations of blasphemy. He was reportedly beaten outside his workplace, later hanged from a tree, and his body was abandoned near the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway before being set on fire.
Protesters demanded strict action against those responsible for the killing and urged both the Bangladeshi authorities and the Indian government to take decisive steps to ensure the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. “We want justice for the victim and firm action against the culprits,” one demonstrator said, adding that minority rights must be protected.
Several participants accused the Bangladeshi administration of failing to prevent attacks on minorities and called on India to raise the issue through diplomatic channels. Emotions ran high as slogans were raised and religious chants echoed through the area.
Police officials repeatedly appealed to the crowd to remain calm and stay within the designated protest zone. Minor scuffles were reported when some demonstrators attempted to push past the barricades, but the situation was brought under control.
Protest leaders said the agitation could continue if their demands were not addressed. They also emphasised Hindu unity and claimed that India had provided a safe environment for people from all communities, contrasting it with the situation faced by minorities in Bangladesh.
A leader from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) stated that the protest was peaceful and conducted with official permission. He reiterated demands for protection of Hindu minorities, compensation for affected families, and rehabilitation for those who had allegedly lost homes or livelihoods due to violence.
Despite heightened tensions, authorities said the protest remained largely peaceful, with police maintaining a strong presence to ensure law and order.
