A fresh attempt to besiege the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata triggered tensions on Saturday as police blocked members of the hardline group Bangasena from reaching the diplomatic mission.
The protesters were demanding security for religious minorities in Bangladesh, the establishment of an independent Hindu state and the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu religious leader.
The procession began near Sealdah railway station on October 31, with Bangasena supporters joined by a large number of saffron-clad protesters, including monks and nuns. Chanting slogans, they marched towards the Bangladesh mission in the Park Circus area.
As the procession approached the diplomatic compound, Kolkata Police reinforced barricades and stopped the demonstrators approximately 300 yards from the main entrance.
A brief exchange of words and minor pushing and shoving took place between police personnel and protesters. However, officers managed to keep the situation under control.
The demonstrators subsequently staged a prolonged protest in front of the barricades, reiterating their demands. The rally disrupted traffic in Park Circus and surrounding areas for some time.
As the mission remained closed on Saturday, the organisers were unable to submit a memorandum to its officials. Additional police personnel had been deployed in and around the diplomatic premises in advance to prevent any untoward incident.
The latest demonstration marks the second incident of heightened tension outside the Bangladesh mission in Kolkata this month.
On October 3, members of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India and monks associated with the Vivekananda Mission Seva organisation staged a similar protest outside the mission, raising largely the same demands. They subsequently submitted a memorandum to mission officials.
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