Police, protesters face off outside Bangladesh missions in Delhi, Kolkata
Bangladesh suspended visa and consular services for its nationals and applicants in Delhi, Siliguri and Agartala yesterday following earlier protests by Hindu nationalist groups, who are protesting alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
Tension flared outside Bangladesh missions in New Delhi and Kolkata today (23 December) as Indian police and Hindutva protesters faced off during demonstrations over the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker, in Bangladesh's Mymensingh.
Waving saffron flags and shouting slogans condemning the killing in Bhaluka, hundreds of demonstrators surged towards the heavily guarded Bangladesh High Commission in the diplomatic enclave Chanakyapuri in New Delhi, pulling down barricades set up to stop them.
Police personnel struggled to hold their ground as protesters breached multiple security barriers
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At one stage, activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal clashed with police during their protest.
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters carrying saffron flags and shouting slogans against alleged violence on Hindus in Bangladesh tried to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission near the Park Circus area but were stopped by police.
The protest march, "Hindu Hunkar Padayatra," was organised under the banner of Bongiyo Hindu Jagaran. The march started in central Kolkata's Sealdah and was proceeding towards the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission office when police stopped it in the Beckbagan area.
Vishva Hindu Parishad members and other Hindu organisations also held a protest in the southern city of Hyderabad against what they called attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
Members of another Hindutva group, the Dogra Front, in India's Jammu and Kashmir region staged a protest against alleged atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh.
Outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, police used batons to disperse the protesters trying to break through security barricades near the mission, reports the Indian news agency ANI.
Earlier, authorities put up three layers of barricading and deployed additional police and paramilitary personnel at the diplomatic mission in the Chanakyapuri locality.
A police officer said a 15,000-strong police force had been deployed at the high commission ahead of the demonstration.
He added that the police had managed to hold the protesters about 800 metres from the high commission.
Passenger buses were parked as an obstacle to thwart the protesters' bid to reach the high commission.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal announced the demonstration at the high commission to denounce what they termed atrocities against Hindus and vandalism of their religious places in Bangladesh.
Yesterday, Bangladesh suspended visa and consular services for Bangladesh nationals and applicants in India's New Delhi, Siliguri and Agartala.
The development came following protests by Hindu nationalist groups, prompting suspensions reportedly on security grounds.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the suspension will remain in effect until further notice.
