VHP and Bajrang Dal protest in Tripura against alleged atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, demanding Indian government intervention and humanitarian passage for persecuted minorities as tensions rise near the international border.
Hundreds of activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest rally in Agartala, Tripura, on Wednesday, demanding urgent intervention by the Indian government over what they described as escalating atrocities against Hindu minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh. The protesters also urged New Delhi to allow free humanitarian passage for persecuted Hindus, particularly from the Chittagong region, into Tripura.
Raising slogans and carrying placards, the demonstrators alleged that the situation for Hindu minorities in Bangladesh has deteriorated sharply following the removal of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in August last year. According to the protestors, incidents of targeted violence, intimidation, and destruction of Hindu properties have become increasingly frequent over the past several months.
VHP Tripura chapter Secretary Sankar Ray, while addressing the media during the rally, claimed that the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh is no longer sporadic but systematic. He stated that repeated appeals and demonstrations have failed to draw sufficient international attention to what he described as “large-scale and organised persecution.”
“The entire world is aware that atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh are continuing unabated. Six to seven months ago, we demonstrated in front of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. Since then, the situation has only worsened, and targeted violence has become routine,” Ray said.
He further alleged that recent incidents included the arson of two media houses, vandalism of offices belonging to prominent cultural organisations, and the killing of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das. According to Ray, Das was allegedly lynched by a radical mob based on false accusations, highlighting what he termed the breakdown of law and order for minority communities in the neighbouring country.
The VHP leader said the protest rally was organised to send a strong message to the Indian government and the international community. He called for “direct and decisive action” to protect Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and demanded strict measures against radical and extremist elements responsible for the violence.
A significant demand raised during the rally was the appeal for humanitarian access for displaced Hindus, particularly from Chittagong, who, according to the protesters, are living in dire conditions. Ray claimed that many affected families are forced to live under open skies without basic safety, dignity, or access to resources.
“India has a moral and humanitarian responsibility. These people are suffering due to religious persecution. They should be allowed safe and free passage into Tripura so they can live with dignity and security,” he said.
The protest rally began from the Agartala Town Hall area and was scheduled to proceed towards the Integrated Check Post (ICP) near the Agartala–Akhaura border with Bangladesh. However, the march was halted approximately one kilometre before the border checkpoint near the police headquarters.
Large contingents of Tripura Police, led by senior officials, stopped the protesters citing security concerns and the sensitive nature of the international border area. As the protesters attempted to move forward, a brief scuffle broke out between the demonstrators and police personnel.
Officials said the situation was quickly brought under control through dialogue and crowd management measures. No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made in connection with the incident.
This was the third protest rally in Agartala in recent days against alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh. Tripura shares an 856-kilometre-long international border with Bangladesh and is surrounded by the neighbouring country on three sides, making cross-border developments particularly sensitive for the state.
Earlier last week, the youth wing of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura, staged a demonstration near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. Separately, activists from the Sanatani Hindu Sena also held protests condemning attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
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These demonstrations also expressed concern over recent remarks by leaders in Bangladesh that allegedly laid claim to India’s Northeast region, further fuelling public anger and political tension in Tripura.
Security agencies have remained on alert amid the series of protests, while political observers note that the issue of minority safety in Bangladesh is increasingly resonating across India’s northeastern states due to geographical proximity, cultural ties, and humanitarian concerns.
