Tripura cracks down on Bangladesh Mission breach: 7 arrested, 3 cops suspended

In response to a group of protestors breaching Bangladesh's mission in Agartala, the Tripura government has suspended three police officers, withdrew a senior officer from his post and detained seven people.

Around 50 people on Dec 2 gathered near the Bangladesh mission in Agartala to show outrage over Hindu monk Chinmoy Das's arrest and alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Three sub-inspectors were suspended, and a deputy superintendent of police was "closed" and instructed to report to the police headquarters for alleged negligence, according to 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," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

The protests were carried out by activists from the Hindu Sangharsh Samity.

During the protest, a few people trespassed the diplomatic mission's grounds, where they allegedly vandalized property and removed the Bangladeshi flag.

Security has since been beefed up at the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, with the deployment of CRPF and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel.

West Tripura SP said an investigation has been launched, and further legal action will be taken.

The incident drew sharp criticism from the neighboring country's interim government.

Dhaka called upon New Delhi to take "immediate action," while alleging that local police were "not found to be active in containing the situation".

It further added that the incident has left mission staff with a “deep sense of insecurity.”

Former International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) member, Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested on charges of sedition last week at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while traveling to Chattogram for a rally.

Das, the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was denied bail and sent to jail the following day.

Apart from Chinmoy Krishna Das, ISKCON's Kolkata center has claimed that two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, were also arrested on Nov 29.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has expressed deep regret over the incident in Tripura.

"Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances. Government is taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country," a statement said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also condemned the security breach and said, “During the protest rally, a group of youth tried to barge into the Assistant High Commission office of Bangladesh in Agartala. I condemned the incident. Peaceful protest can be allowed but such behavior is not acceptable.”

In protest to the ongoing alleged atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh, the All Tripura Hotel & Restaurant Owners' Association (ATHROA) refused to serve its Bangladeshi guests.

ATHROA general secretary Saikat Bandyopadhyay said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting on Dec 2.

"We are a secular country and have respect for all religions. Our national flag has been desecrated and minorities are facing oppression by a section of fundamentalists in Bangladesh. Earlier too such incidents used to take place but now it has crossed the limit," PTI quoted Bandyopadhyay as saying.

"The prevailing situation in Bangladesh is really worrisome. We serve the people who are coming to Tripura for various purposes. We condemn the treatment meted out to minorities in Bangladesh," he added.

Earlier, ILS Hospital, a multi-specialty private hospital, refused to treat Bangladeshi patients to lodge their protest against atrocities on minorities.