Activists of Hindu Jagaran Mancha participate in a rally to protest over arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das by the Bangladesh police, in Siliguri, West Bengal on Nov. 28, 2024. A similar protest is planned at Petrapole. , Photo Credit: PTI
Hundreds of monks have started gathering at Petrapole on the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas on Monday (December 2, 2024) to protest against the arrest of spiritual leaders in Bangladesh.
The protests have been called by the West Bengal unit of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samity, and a spokesperson of the order said that they will not leave the border till the government of the neighboring country acts to protect the interest of religious minorities. The spokesperson said that similar protests will be organized in Siliguri.
Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is expected to take part in the protest at Petrapole, the largest international checkpoint between India and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals who were in India for treatment or were visiting relatives are returning. There was a large crowd at Petrapole waiting to cross over to Bangladesh. They said that they were not sure about the situation in the country but had to return as their visas had expired.
The ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) spokesperson in Kolkata said Bangladesh has stopped as many as 63 of their Brahmacharis from entering the country from India. “They had all valid Indian visa and other documents. But Bangladeshi Border Police said that Bangladeshi Intelligence has told them not to allow them to enter India,” said Radharamn Das, vice president and spokesperson of ISKCON Kolkata.
The religious body organized several processions and prayer meetings in different parts of West Bengal on Sunday (December 3, 2024) to protest the arrest of monks of the order in Bangladesh.
After Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in Dhaka on November 25, three other monks have been arrested, according to Radharam Das,
“A total of four Brahmacharis are in jail. Two were arrested when they went to deliver medicine and prasad to Chinmoy Krishna Das. His secretary has also been arrested,” Mr. Das said in Kolkata.
global stir
ISKCON has called for protests at its centers across the globe. “In over 150 countries and countless cities and towns, millions of ISKCON devotees worldwide will come together Sunday, 1st December, to pray and chant for the safety and security of Bangladeshi minorities,” Mr. Das posted on social media.
On Sunday, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul took part in a procession at Asansol in south Bengal that was organized by ISKCON. Protests were also organized at Raghunathpur in Purulia. On Saturday evening in Kolkata, a Hindutva organization held a rally from Ganguly Bagan to 8B Bus Stand in the Jadavpur area.
Youth claims he was attacked in Bangladesh
In another development, a youth from Kolkata said that he was attacked in Bangladesh. Sayan Ghosh, a resident of Belghoria in North 24 Parganas, said that he was attacked by a mob that asked him to identify himself. “I did not get any help from the police, who did not register a complaint and instead tried to threaten the family I was staying with,” he said. Mr. Ghosh said that he went to Bangladesh on November 23 and was attacked on November 26.
Meanwhile, two more Bangladeshi nationals were arrested while waiting to board the Kanchanjunga Express at Agartala in Tripura. There have been several arrests of Bangladeshi nationals in West Bengal for illegally entering the country. One person arrested by Kolkata Police was using a fake identity. He has been identified as Salim Matabbar, a resident of Madaripur, Bangladesh, and has links to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Published – December 02, 2024 03:23 pm IST