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A video going viral on social media shows police lathicharging protesters and firing sound grenades at them in Chittagong.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu’s bail was rejected and he was sent to 10 days police custody in a sedition case. His supporters, here in this photo, face attacks from police outside Chittagong court. (IMAGE: X)
Violence broke out during peaceful protests staged demanding the release of Hindu religious leader and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu on Tuesday.
Reports of violence came from Chittagong high court where protesters faced police action. Protesters sustained injuries when police hurled sound grenades and baton-charged those demanding the monk’s release.
The monk is facing a case of sedition in Bangladesh. The prosecutors allege that Chinmoy along with 19 others disrespected the Bangladesh national flag.
The court rejected the bail application and ordered that the monk remain in jail.
Hindu groups in Bangladesh allege these are steps taken by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to antagonise Bengali Hindus, a minority in Bangladesh.
They also claim that Chinmoy is being targeted because he spoke up against the atrocities faced by Hindu Bengalis since the regime change that saw Sheikh Hasina ousted in the face of protests against government jobs quota and led to deaths of more than 100 people.
A Hindu protester at the Chittagong court, Tapore Hosh (name changed to hide real identity), said that “Islamist forces” attacked Hindu protesters gathered there.
“Islamist forces also attacked Hindus outside court. We are not safe. Tensions (are) still going on. Sound bullets and tear gas shells were lobbed at us,” he said.
- Location :
Dhaka, Bangladesh