Protests erupt at Bengal land ports over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh
Scuffles reported in Howrah as police stop BJP march; demonstrations held at multiple land ports
Members of a pro-Hindu organisation staged demonstrations at several land ports along the India–Bangladesh border in West Bengal to protest the killing of a man from the minority community in the neighbouring country.
Scuffles also broke out between police personnel and BJP supporters during a protest in Howrah district. Trouble began after police stopped a procession by the saffron party before it could reach Howrah Bridge, triggering heated arguments between protesters and security personnel.
“We will not allow anyone to disrupt normal life or inconvenience commuters in the garb of protest. We will act in accordance with the law to thwart any attempts to create trouble,” a senior Howrah Police officer told PTI.
As police prevented the march from proceeding, protesters squatted on the road and attempted to break through barricades, leading to clashes. Police alleged that the demonstrators turned aggressive, forcing security personnel to intervene and disperse them.
Members of the Sanatani Aikya Parishad held demonstrations at the Petrapole and Ghojadanga land ports in North 24 Parganas district, Manoharpur Muchia in Malda, and Changrabandha in Cooch Behar district, alleging atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.
In North 24 Parganas, BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania led a procession from Jayantipur Bazar towards the Petrapole border. The protesters were stopped near the zero point by the Border Security Force, which erected barricades to prevent them from advancing further. Demonstrators raised slogans and expressed strong resentment against the Md Yunus-led administration in Bangladesh.
During the march, Kirtania said border trade should remain suspended to “teach a lesson” to the Bangladesh administration until the safety and rights of minorities are ensured in the neighbouring country. Similar protests were reported at the Ghojadanga land port.
However, Kartik Chakraborty, a member of the Petrapole Clearing Agents’ Association, said trade operations were not affected as the protests remained confined to roads and the trade area was secured by the BSF.
At the Manoharpur border in Malda, members of the Hindu community staged a symbolic protest by playing traditional musical instruments such as the khol and kartal.
Protesters said they would continue their agitations and alleged that the West Bengal Police used force and “tortured” men and women participating in the demonstrations.
On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district.
Since Monday, several protest marches have been organised by the Hindu community and the BJP in Kolkata and across multiple districts of West Bengal. On Tuesday, hundreds of people attempted to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to protest attacks on minorities in the neighbouring country. The rally, which began from Sealdah, was stopped by police in the Beckbagan area. When protesters tried to breach the barricades, police baton-charged the rallyists, leaving several people injured.
