3 cops suspended, 7 people held over attack on Agartala mission of Bangladesh

Four police officers faced action, while seven people were arrested today (3 December) over the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, reports The Hindustan Times, citing Tripura police.

The move came hours after Bangladesh called for immediate action against protesters who broke into the consulate, saying they tore down its main gate, damaged property and desecrated the national flag.

Those arrested were part of demonstrations organised by the Hindu Sangharsha Samiti, a group that says it protects Hindu interests, after Bangladesh arrested a former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, last week.

Three sub-inspectors were suspended, and a deputy superintendent of police was "closed" and instructed to report to the police headquarters for alleged negligence, according to West Tripura SP Kiran Kumar K.

"A suo-motu case was registered at the New Capital Complex [NCC] police station over the incident. Seven have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the incident," Indian news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

"An investigation has been launched, and further legal action will be taken," the SP added. 

Meanwhile, security at the consulate has been heightened with the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel in response to the attack.

The attack on the Agartala mission of Bangladesh occurred yesterday (2 December) when activists from the Hindu Sangharsh Samity were protesting the arrest of Chinmoy and the reported alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

"Around 50 of them broke into the property's main gate and brought down the Bangladeshi flag post," Kiran Kumar K, a district police officer in west Tripura, told Reuters.

Among the 4,000 protesters were more people involved in the break-in and police were investigating, he said, adding that disciplinary action had been taken against four police officers in charge of consulate security.

In a post on X, Tarique Rahman, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and the acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), criticised the attack, saying such incidents caused division and discord among neighbours.

In a statement on Monday, India's foreign ministry called the incident "deeply regrettable," adding that diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also condemned the attack, saying, "A group of youth tried to barge into the Assistant High Commission office of Bangladesh in Agartala during the protest rally. I condemned the incident. Peaceful protests can be allowed, but such behaviour is not acceptable."

The All Tripura Hotel & Restaurant Owners' Association (ATHROA) said its members would not serve Bangladeshi guests, given "the insult to the Indian flag" in the neighbouring country.

ATHROA General Secretary Saikat Bandyopadhyay said the decision was taken at yesterday's emergency meeting.

"The prevailing situation in Bangladesh is worrisome. We serve the people who are coming to Tripura for various purposes. We condemn the treatment meted out to minorities in Bangladesh," PTI quoted Bandyopadhyay as saying.

Earlier, ILS Hospital, a multi-speciality private hospital, announced it would not treat any patients from Bangladesh in protest against the alleged attack on minorities in the neighbouring country.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, arrested last week at the airport in Dhaka on charges of sedition, is a former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).

His arrest sparked protests in Dhaka and the southern port city of Chattogram, where his supporters clashed with security forces.

India had also condemned the arrest and expressed concern over alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.