A lawyer representing Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk arrested on sedition charges in Bangladesh, has been brutally attacked, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) reported. The incident happened just before a court hearing in Bangladesh scheduled for December 3.

Radharaman Das, ISKCON's spokesperson, shared details of the attack on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, "Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life." However, some lawyers in Bangladesh have denied that the attack occurred.

Previous claims of attacks investigated

This isn’t the first time there have been claims of violence related to this case. Last month, some reports on social media said a lawyer defending Chinmoy Krishna Das had been killed. However, investigations showed that the person, Saiful Islam, was actually an assistant public prosecutor and had no connection to defending the monk.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON leader in Bangladesh, was arrested in Dhaka last month after protests by Hindus in Rangpur. The protesters were asking for better legal protections for minorities. He has been charged with sedition and was not granted bail on Tuesday.

India condemns arrest, calls for safety of Hindus

The political climate in Bangladesh remains tense, with ongoing violence and protests over the treatment of minorities after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Radharaman Das also reported that two disciples of Chinmoy Krishna Das went missing in Chattogram after another Hindu monk, Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested.

India has strongly condemned the arrest and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities. In response to the arrest, protests have erupted in West Bengal and other Indian states bordering Bangladesh.

In Tripura, the backlash includes a boycott by hotels and restaurants refusing to host Bangladeshi tourists. Over 50 protesters entered the Bangladeshi mission in Agartala earlier today, causing panic. India called the incident "deeply regrettable."