By Ruma Paul
DHAKA (Reuters) – Police in Bangladesh used teargas on Hindus protesting against the arrest of a religious leader, even as neighbour India urged the country’s caretaker government to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and minorities.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested from Dhaka airport on Monday on several charges, including sedition.
His arrest sparked protests by his supporters in both the capital Dhaka and Chittagong city.
Das faces sedition charges filed in October after leading a large rally in Chittagong, in which he was accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag and was denied bail by a court in Chittagong on Tuesday.
When Das was being escorted back to prison from court, more than 2,000 supporters surrounded the van, blocking it for over two hours, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz, said.
“They went on a rampage, throwing bricks at us. To disperse the crowd, we had to fire tear gas. No one was seriously injured, but one of our constables was hurt,” Aziz said.
Neighbouring India condemned the arrest of Das, saying in a sternly worded statement that the perpetrators of documented vandalism and arson against minorities as well as those who desecrated deities remained at large.
“It is unfortunate that, while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings,” the statement from the Indian foreign ministry said.
Hindu-majority India has strong cultural and business ties with its neighbour and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has expressed concern over a spate of attacks on Hindus. (This story has been refiled to say ‘use,’ not ‘us,’ in the headline)
(Reporting by Ruma Paul, writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Editing by Alex Richardson)
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