The Kolkata Police put up five barricades to prevent the entry of protesters into the Embassy office at Beckbagan in south Kolkata. However, a scuffle broke out near Beckbagan when some protestors attempted to break through the barricades, but were prevented by a large police force. A policeman was injured during the clash.

A five-member delegation, which was granted permission to enter the Bangladesh Embassy, submitted a memorandum demanding the unconditional release of Chinmoy Das as well as the protection of religious minorities.

Demanding the release of the jailed Chinmoy Krishna Das, a protest kirtan was held at the Albert Road centre of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). “Through the kirtan, we want to give the message to the minorities in Bangladesh that we have not forgotten them and they are in our thoughts,” ISKCON spokesperson Radharamn Das said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the situation in the state Assembly and said that she had spoken to ISKCON twice regarding the matter. She emphasized that the issue involved two countries and expressed her support for the decisions made by the central government.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said, “Bangladesh’s future will be like Afghanistan. The centre is monitoring the situation there. Those who loot the President and PM house, who can control them. Bangladesh is our neighbour… we pray for peace. We want that Hindu minorities to be protected there…”

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticized the silence on Bangladesh issues, drawing a parallel with the widespread condemnation of violence in Palestine. “Don’t we talk about Palestine? May the violence in Bangladesh come to an end and may there be peace , Why can’t we just say so?” he said. — WITH PTI