The protesters alleged that since the removal of the Sheikh Hasina government in August last year, incidents of targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh have escalated.
VHP Tripura chapter Secretary Sankar Ray said that the situation had worsened over the past several months, prompting repeated protests in Tripura.
“The entire world is aware that large-scale atrocities are being carried out against Hindus in Bangladesh. Six to seven months ago, we demonstrated in front of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission here. Now, targeted violence has become regular in the neighbouring country.”
He said recently, two media houses were set ablaze, vandalised several prominent cultural organisations’ offices and that a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was killed by a radical mob on what he described as false allegations.
The VHP leader said the protest was organised to draw the attention of the Indian government to these incidents.
Ray urged the Indian government to take “direct action” to protect Hindus in Bangladesh and demanded strong measures against radical forces.He also appealed on humanitarian grounds for the Indian government to allow free passage for marginalised Hindus from Chittagong, who, he claimed, were living under open skies, to enter Tripura and live with dignity.
Wednesday’s protest rally began from the Agartala Town Hall area and was scheduled to proceed towards the Integrated Check post in the Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) border.
However, large contingents of police led by senior officials have stopped the march about a kilometre ahead of the border check post, near the police headquarters, citing security concerns.
A brief scuffle took place between VHP and Bajrang Dal protesters and police personnel during the attempt to move forward, though the situation was later brought under control.
No injuries were reported in the scuffle.