7 arrested after security breach at Bangladesh Mission in Agartal

Hours after an unruly mob breached the security barricade at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala on Monday, vandalising property and removing the Bangladeshi national flag, Tripura Police arrested seven people and suspended three police officers over the incident, reports indianexpress.

Extra security personnel have since been deployed near the complex along with round-the-clock mobile patrolling to prevent further incidents. The three police personnel against whom departmental proceedings were initiated for negligence in duty have been identified as sub-inspectors Dilu Jamatia and Joynal Hossain, and sergeant Debabrata Sinha. A DSP-level officer under the SP (Security) office was also withdrawn from duty.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, a senior police official said Tuesday that a case was registered with New Capital Complex police station. The attackers have been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to assaulting or using criminal force against public servants on duty, unlawful assembly, rioting, and criminal trespass.

“The arrested individuals include Jhutan Das of Border Golchakkar, Ujjwal Das of Dashamighat, Diptanil Bhowmik of Abhoynagar, Surja Das of Amtali area in the outskirts of Agartala city, Jhulan Malakar of Belonia in South Tripura, Pradip Saha of 79 Tilla area in Agartala and Alak Majumder of SDO Chowmuhani in West Tripura,” the official said. A search is on to nab others involved.

On Monday afternoon, a protest was underway outside the mission against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh when agitators breached the police barricade and stormed the complex even as a team of their delegates was meeting the Assistant High Commissioner inside.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the situation “deeply regrettable” and announced additional security deployment at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and other missions of the country elsewhere in India.

The Government of Bangladesh said it “deeply resents the violent demonstration and attack” on its Assistant High Commission premises in Agartala.

The protest by activists of the Hindu Sangharsh Samiti – against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh – initially started as a peaceful sit-in demonstration. The agitators also raised the issue of insult towards the Indian flag at a university in Bangladesh and the alleged atrocities meted out to minorities under the dispensation led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

When a delegation of six protesters went to meet the Assistant High Commissioner, a group of agitators stormed the premises, removed Bangladesh’s national flag hoisted there and damaged chairs, flower pots and other objects. Security personnel brought the situation under control within minutes and dispersed the mob.

Tripura Police Director General (Intelligence) Anurag Dhankar rushed to the spot. Additional security forces were deployed outside the mission shortly afterwards._Agencies.