A massive protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi turned violent on Tuesday as members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and other Hindu groups, including the Bajrang Dal, gathered to protest the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. Despite heavy security arrangements, demonstrators toppled police barricades, clashed with security personnel, and raised slogans condemning the killing, prompting concerns over diplomatic security and public order in the capital.
Security had been tightened well in advance of the protest, with three layers of barricades erected and nearly 15,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed around the mission. However, hundreds of protesters surged forward, overturning barricades and displaying banners accusing the Bangladesh government of failing to protect minorities. Authorities deployed DTC buses to block roads and managed to stop the protesters approximately 800 metres from the High Commission. The incident caused traffic disruptions and raised alarms about the safety of diplomatic establishments in the city.
The protest was sparked by the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker in Bangladesh who was accused of blasphemy. According to reports, Das was forced to resign by his supervisors before being handed over to a mob. He was brutally assaulted, killed, and his body was later hung from a structure along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway before being set on fire. Bangladeshi authorities have arrested at least 12 people in connection with the murder, but the incident has triggered widespread outrage among Hindu groups in India.
Protesters in Delhi demanded strict action against those responsible for the killing and called on both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to ensure justice. Slogans raised during the demonstration reflected deep anger and grief, with some banners carrying inflammatory messages that further heightened tensions at the site. Police officials stated that while the situation was eventually brought under control, the scale of the protest made crowd management challenging.
The Bangladesh government strongly condemned the protest and summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to lodge a formal complaint. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka said Bangladesh condemns acts of violence or intimidation against diplomatic missions, warning that such actions endanger diplomatic personnel and undermine principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. The ministry urged India to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Bangladeshi diplomatic staff and premises.
The fallout was not limited to Delhi. Similar protests were reported in Kolkata, leading to heightened security at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Armed police officers and Bangladeshi Army units, along with armoured vehicles, were deployed around the mission to prevent any escalation. The episode has added strain to India-Bangladesh relations, highlighting how cross-border incidents involving communal violence can quickly translate into diplomatic and security challenges.
