Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), along with activists from several other Hindu organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, staged a major protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 23. The demonstration was held to condemn the mob lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh last week.
The protest was triggered by the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, whose death has sparked outrage among Hindu groups in India. Anticipating unrest, security agencies put in place extensive arrangements around the diplomatic mission, deploying around 15,000 police and paramilitary personnel and erecting three layers of barricades to block access to the High Commission.
Despite the heavy security presence, police struggled to control hundreds of protesters. Some demonstrators were seen allegedly pushing down barricades, raising slogans against the Bangladesh government, and holding placards demanding justice. One banner read, “Hindu rakt ki ek ek boond ka hisaab chahiye” (each drop of a Hindu’s blood must be accounted for).
To slow the crowd’s movement, Delhi Police also stationed Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses along key routes leading to the area. Senior police officials said security forces managed to halt the protesters about 800 metres from the High Commission, preventing any attempt to breach the diplomatic premises.
Speaking at the protest site, one participant said the demonstration was meant to pressure the Indian government to take strong diplomatic steps and to demand swift action by Bangladeshi authorities. “A Hindu man was brutally attacked and killed. Those responsible must be punished, and the Bangladesh police must be held accountable,” the protester said.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government criticised the protest and summoned the Indian High Commissioner to formally lodge its objection over the demonstration outside its diplomatic mission in New Delhi.
According to reports, Dipu Das was accused of blasphemy on December 18. He was allegedly forced to resign by his supervisors and then handed over to a mob. He was beaten to death, and his body was reportedly hung along the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway before being set on fire.
Bangladesh police have so far arrested at least 12 people in connection with the incident. Investigations are currently underway.