Kolkata, 23 December (H.S.): Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari addressed media on Tuesday from the BJP West Headquarters, raising serious allegations over police action during a protest in Kolkata and the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh.

Adhikari said that an apolitical Hindu organisation had organised a rally to the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata to protest the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. But the police at Beckbagan resorted to a “merciless lathi charge” on Hindu protesters, leaving several people seriously injured and hospitalised. He said that he and a volunteer team were monitoring the situation closely.

According to Adhikari, police detained three protesters — Pronoti Roy, Souryodeep Chakraborty and Nakul Bhattacharya. He demanded their immediate release.

Referring to the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, Adhikari alleged that the victim was brutally beaten, tied to a tree and set on fire by Islamic extremists, with the incident broadcast live on social media. He further claimed that a viral video showed local police handing the victim over to the attackers. Adhikari alleged that Das had begged for his life before being killed and that there was no evidence that he had made any religiously provocative remarks.

He said the incident was not only an act of religious extremism but also reflected what he described as a “complete administrative failure” of the Muhammad Yunus-led administration in Bangladesh.

Adhikari said that Hindus across India and people who believe in humanity had protested the incident. He said demonstrations were held in Delhi and other parts of the country by Hindu organisations and common citizens with no political affiliation. He also said, I staged protest to Bangladesh High Commission where large section people joined and even people passing on the street show their solidarity.

Strongly criticising the West Bengal government, Adhikari alleged that the police action against protesters showed “no difference” between the Bangladesh administration and the Mamata Banerjee-led state government. He accused the state government of being “anti-Hindu” and alleged that the Kolkata Police were being used as a political tool. He further claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was alarmed by Hindu unity and had therefore ordered police action against the protesters.

Drawing parallels between incidents in Murshidabad and Bangladesh, Adhikari said that although the locations and individuals were different, the intent was the same. He compared the murder of Haragobindo Das and Chandan Das in Murshidabad with the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. He alleged that while the Murshidabad case was under judicial consideration following the filing of a chargesheet, similar accountability was lacking in the Bangladesh incident.

Adhikari also alleged that several police personnel involved in the lathi charge would be identified and claimed that some had been recruited in recent years using fake OBC certificates. He further alleged that sadhus, including Lalbaba Maharaj and others wearing saffron robes, were beaten despite being unarmed, raising questions about the intent behind the police action.

He announced that further protests would be organised along the West Bengal–Bangladesh border and said he would seek a meeting with the Bangladesh High Commissioner on December 26. Appealing to the Hindu community, Adhikari urged people to unite and participate in the proposed protest.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey