ISKCON Saturday condemned the “murder” of a Hindu priest allegedly by “Bangladeshi extremists” in Natore and accused the country’s interim government of failing to protect religious minorities, who continue to face “unabated torture and killings” following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s administration.

The priest’s body was reportedly found at a temple in Natore’s Kashimpur Central Shmashana in Bangladesh.

ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das posted a video on X and asked “when will these killings end!”. Das claimed, “Shocked to hear about the attack on the temple located in #Natore’s Kashimpur Central Shmashana in Bangladesh. Valuables were looted, and the temple’s shebait, Tarun Chandra Das, was brutally murdered…” PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

According to Das, the priest was likely tortured, before being killed, as his hands and feet were tied. “Miscreants also looted the temple,” he said, adding that Bangladesh police termed the incident a case of robbery, to which Das asked, “How is it that incidents of robbery and violence are disproportionately targeting Hindus?”

Another monk, condemning the priest’s ‘killing’, said, “Dialogue alone is not enough, as the situation continues to deteriorate.”

He said, “According to an Indian government report, 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities…have been reported this year up to December 8. This number is likely understated, as many incidents go unreported.”