Attack on Bangladesh Mission: 7 arrested, 3 cops suspended

Indian authorities have arrested seven people and taken action against four policemen in connection with a demonstration and attack on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh at Agartala in India.

Three sub-inspectors were suspended, and a deputy superintendent of police was "closed", reports Indian media on Tuesday quoting West Tripura SP Kiran Kumar K.

"A suo-motu case was registered at the New Capital Complex (NCC) police station over the incident. Seven persons have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the incident," he said.

Bangladesh authorities on Monday said it “deeply resents” the “violent demonstration and attack” by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, underlined that this “heinous attack” on a diplomatic mission of Bangladesh and desecration of the national flag of Bangladesh comes in a pattern, further to a similar violent demonstration in Kolkata on 28 November 2024.

“This particular act in Agartala stands in violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, asks for,” the ministry said.

The government of India, in a separate statement, said they are taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country.

As it is the responsibility of the host government to protect the diplomatic missions from any form of intrusion or damage, the government of Bangladesh called upon the government of India to take immediate action to address this incident, to undertake a thorough investigation into the incident.

Bangladesh sought steps to prevent any further acts of violence against the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India, including the safety and security of the diplomats and the non-diplomatic members of staff and members of their families.

The accounts conclusively attest that the protesters were allowed to aggress into the premises, by breaking down the main gate of Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in a pre-planned manner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

 

Tension between India and Bangladesh has heightened following the recent arrest of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges.

Saiful Islam Alif, a 32-year government lawyer, was killed amid clashes outside a court in Chattagram on November 27 amid protests of ISKCON followers over his bail denial.