Protests in India over reports of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh

Members of ISKCON sang 'bhajans' and held protests outside Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata following the incident where an ISKCON temple in Noakhali, Bangladesh, was vandalised and a devotee killed by a mob.

Radharaman Das, Vice-President of ISKCON, Kolkata, said they would continue to protest until the guilty were punished.

"Cycle of violence in Bangladesh in past few days hasn't stopped. There was a dance of death inside the ISKCON temple on Friday (October 15). ISKCON will continue to protest outside Bangladesh High Commissions across the world until the guilty are punished," Radharaman said.

Radharaman Das had condemned the attack on the ISKCON temple in Bangladesh and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to end the cycle of violence.

On October 15, a mob allegedly attacked an ISKCON temple in Bangladesh's Noakhali district, and according to the community, one of its members was killed.

"It is with great grief that we share the news of an ISKCON member, Partha Das, who was brutally killed yesterday by a mob of over 200 people. His body was found in a pond next to the temple. We call on the Govt of Bangladesh for immediate action in this regard," the official Twitter handle of the ISKCON community said.

As communal violence escalates in Bangladesh, a group of people attacked houses of the Hindu community at a village in Rangpur's Pirganj Upazila over a post on social media that allegedly dishonoured religion.

At least 20 houses were burnt entirely in Majhipara's Jelepolli at Ramnathpur Union in the attack that was carried out late on October 17. According to the local reports, some 65 houses were torched during the attack.

"Police reached the spot soon after tensions mounted and stood guard around the home of the young man. We could save that house, but attackers torched some 15 to 20 nearby houses," Bangladesh media quoted Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Kamruzzaman.

On October 13, communal violence broke out in several places in Bangladesh after news broke on social media about the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran at a Durga Puja venue on the bank of Nanuar Dighi.

Several Durga Puja venues were vandalised in Chandpur, Chittagong, Gazipur, Bandarban, Chapainawabganj and Moulvibazar. The clashes resulted in several casualties.