Calcutta policeman injured as protests against attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority turn violent

NEW DELHI: A policeman was injured on Thursday after a scuffle broke out between police and members of the Hindu Mahasabha during a protest march in Kolkata against the ongoing violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
The protesters were heading towards the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission to express their outrage.
The march, which began peacefully, saw tensions flare as it approached the Bangladesh consulate. The police quickly intervened to prevent the crowd from advancing, which led to clashes. Several protesters were arrested and the injured police officer was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The protests intensified after the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and prominent spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote. Das was arrested by Bangladeshi authorities at Dhaka airport on Monday as he prepared to board a flight to Chattogram. Das faces sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during a rally in October, in which he and 18 others were involved.
Das’ arrest sparked widespread anger, with political leaders, Hindu spiritual figures and activists taking to the streets of Calcutta to protest not only the arrest but also growing incidents of mob violence targeting temples Hindu and religious sites in Bangladesh.
These attacks have intensified in recent months, drawing harsh criticism from human rights groups and neighboring India, which have expressed deep concerns about the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh.