Bangladesh police clash with protesters as Hindu leader detained

A tribunal successful Chittagong denied bail to the antheral charged with sedition arsenic India cautioned astir justness for minorities.

Police successful Bangladesh person utilized teardrop state against Hindus protesting against the apprehension of a spiritual person arsenic neighbouring India called for ensuring the information of Hindus and minorities successful the Muslim-majority nation.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, besides known arsenic Krishna Das Prabhu, was arrested astatine Dhaka airdrome connected Monday connected charges including sedition.

A tribunal successful the larboard metropolis of Chittagong connected Tuesday denied bail to the clergyman associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), wide known arsenic the Hare Krishna movement.

According to the city’s police, much than 2,000 supporters surrounded the van and blocked its way for immoderate clip erstwhile Das was being escorted backmost to situation from court.

The demonstrators threw bricks astatine the constabulary and officers fired teardrop state to disperse the crowds, said Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz, who added nary 1 was earnestly hurt.

Das’s apprehension acceptable disconnected protests by his supporters successful some Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city, and the capital, Dhaka.

India noted the apprehension and denial of bail with “deep concern”. The neighbouring Hindu-majority country’s Ministry of External Affairs said successful a connection that the incidental follows attacks connected Hindus and different minorities, along with places of worship, by “extremist elements successful Bangladesh”.

It said the perpetrators of those incidents stay astatine large portion Bangladeshi authorities pressed charges against “a spiritual person presenting morganatic demands done peaceful gatherings”.

Sedition charges were filed against Das successful October aft helium led a ample rally successful Chittagong, during which it is accused helium disrespected Bangladesh’s nationalist flag.

The rally was aimed astatine demanding justness for Hindus facing targeted attacks successful Bangladesh and seeking amended protections for minorities.

The interim government, which took implicit successful the aftermath of erstwhile Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s formation from the state connected August 5 amid a wide uprising against her regularisation earlier this year, has said the menace to Hindus is being exaggerated and they are moving connected the issue.

While determination was large-scale looting and the ransacking of nationalist monuments and authorities buildings successful the aftermath of Hasina’s overthrow, pupil leaders who spearheaded the protests had besides asked supporters to defender Hindu temples and churches.

More than 90 percent of the colonisation successful Bangladesh is Muslim, with Hindus – galore of who enactment Hasina’s Awami League enactment – making up astir each of the rest.

“We impulse Bangladesh authorities to guarantee the information and information of Hindus and each minorities, including their close of state of peaceful assembly and expression,” the Indian ministry said.