Lawyer killed in police clash with Chinmoy followers | Chinmoy supporters clash with police officers in Ctg; lawyer killed

• Chinmoy’s supporters clash with police and lawyers
• The murdered lawyer was a deputy prosecutor
• Lawyers will go on strike in Chattogram today

A lawyer was killed yesterday during clashes between police and supporters of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in the Chattogram Court building area.

The clashes, which left at least 10 people injured, began just before noon when a court sent Chinmoy to jail, rejecting his bail application in a sedition case.

The deceased, 32-year-old Saiful Islam, was a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association.

Citing eyewitnesses, Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chattogram District Bar Association, said that around 3.30 p.m., some people protesting Chimoy’s arrest murdered Saiful in front of the main gate of the court premises. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Chittagong Medical College Hospital around 4 p.m.

Mohammad Didar, an employee of Golam Rasul Market, who along with several other residents rescued Saiful and took him to hospital, told The Daily Star: “Some Chinmoy supporters broke into the lawyer’s house on the road next to Rangam Convention Hall.”

CMCH director Taslim Uddin told AFP: “He had deep head injuries.”

Chief Counsel Professor Muhammad Yunus condemned the lawyer’s murder and ordered an investigation and appropriate legal action.

Deposit rejected, dispute

Chinmoy was taken to court around 10:30 a.m. Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam sent him to prison after he rejected a bail prayer after over an hour of interrogation.

Following the court’s order, lawyers supporting him and his supporters began protesting outside the courtroom and stopped the prison van that was taking Chinmoy to prison. They also punctured the vehicle’s tire.

Senior police officials asked protesters to clear the road, but they refused to comply.

Chinmoy could be heard from inside the bus urging his supporters to remain calm.

“We are not against the state and the government. We, Sanatani, are part of the state…. We will not do anything that could destabilize the state and destroy peaceful coexistence. We will conduct a peaceful protest by controlling our emotions and turning them into strength,” he said.

At 2:50 p.m., members of the BGB and police fired several stun grenades and charged batons to disperse the demonstrators. Chinmoy’s supporters threw flower pots and pieces of bricks at police.

Police had to take Chinmoy to prison in another vehicle, said CMP deputy commissioner Rais Uddin.

Police and eyewitnesses destroyed several cars, motorcycles and a lawyer’s office on the ground floor of the Masjid court building complex.

The Chattogram District Bar Association has announced that lawyers will go on strike today to protest against the murder, Nazim Uddin Chowdhury said.

Around 4 p.m., a group of lawyers began a march, condemning vandalism and throwing bricks at Chinmoy’s supporters.

Later, the police brought the situation under control.

Chinmoy, a spokesman for Sammility Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was arrested on Monday at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

On October 31, a case was filed against him and 18 others in Chattogram on charges of disrespecting the national flag.

Last night, The Jote daily issued a statement saying that the group that killed the lawyer was trying to shift the blame to Hindus.

She demanded that a murder investigation be initiated. If the investigation is conducted in cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations and other human rights organizations, the facts will come to light.

“We believe in peaceful programs and are committed to maintaining stability,” it said.

Kanchan Acharjee, Jote’s paramount leader, told The Daily Star that those who murdered the lawyer should be held accountable.

He said many people from the Hindu community gathered at the court premises and demonstrated peacefully for Chinmoy’s release.

However, he said law enforcers attacked and dispersed them, adding that the news of the lawyer’s death came later.

“We have no idea who killed him,” Kanchan said.

Chinmoy arrested for sedition: ASIF

Local government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said yesterday that Chinmoy was arrested as a person accused of sedition and not as a community leader.

“The government will take stringent action against any act of sedition that threatens the sovereignty and independence of Bangladesh. Let it be clear to everyone: no one, regardless of their position and influence, will be spared if they are involved in such activities,” he said. during the event.

Home Affairs Advisor Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said: “Many parties with vested interests could be behind this. Sites that are banned may also be involved. No matter who, strict action will be taken in this matter.”

ATTACKS, PROTESTS

In the capital Dhakeshwari, Sumon Kumar Roy, one of Jote’s leaders, said attacks on several temples and chambers of Hindu lawyers were reported in Chattogram.

Earlier in the day, Jagaran Jote demonstrated in Thakurgaon and Dinajpur to protest against the court’s decision to reject Chinmoy’s bail application.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Lawyers Forum announced a demonstration at 1 p.m. today in front of the Supreme Court, as well as at all district bar associations across the country, to protest against the murder.

In Bandarban, pro-BNP, Jamaat and Shibir lawyers announced they would demonstrate against the killing today.

Meanwhile, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman condemned Saiful’s murder, calling him a “beloved member of the party”.

He demanded that strict legal action be taken against those involved in the case.

Shafiqur also urged people not to take the law into their own hands under any circumstances.

“A certain group, siding with the fallen autocrat, is constantly plotting and trying to destabilize Bangladesh. They aim to cause unrest through provocations. Just as their attempts failed in the past, they will fail again in the future, Insha’Allah.”