India condemns murder of Hindu leader amid rising attacks, urges protection of minorities

New Delhi: India has strongly condemned the alleged abduction and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh, and called on the interim government in Dhaka to uphold its duty to safeguard minority communities.

In a post on social media, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed India’s concern over the incident and pointed to a worrying trend of attacks against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

“We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh,” Jaiswal stated.

Pattern of persecution highlighted

Jaiswal said this incident is not isolated and fits into a broader pattern of violence and persecution faced by the Hindu community in the country.

“This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity,” he said.

India urges Bangladesh to act

India urged the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, to take concrete steps to ensure the safety of all minority communities.

“We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions,” Jaiswal added.

Strained ties between India and Bangladesh

India-Bangladesh relations have suffered a setback since the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year, amid widespread anti-government protests. The situation worsened further under the current interim administration, which has struggled to control rising attacks on minorities, especially Hindus.

PTI