'Matter of great concern, worrisome': India condemns lynching of 2 Hindu youth in Bangladesh

Amid continued violence against minorities and mounting political unrest, India on Friday strongly condemned the lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh, voicing deep concern over what it described as persistent hostility towards minority communities in the neighbouring country.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was disturbed by the killings and stressed that such incidents could not be brushed aside.

“The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth and expect the perpetrators to be brought to justice,” he said.

India rejects ‘false narrative’ on minority attacks

The MEA said India has consistently raised concerns over attacks on minorities and rejected what it termed a “false narrative” being projected by Bangladesh on such incidents. According to the ministry, around 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities have been reported during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government. “We have issued statements earlier as well, rejecting the false narrative put out by Bangladesh,” the MEA said.

Rajbari lynching: extortion-linked violence alleged

The statement comes after two separate lynching incidents involving Hindu men this month. In the first case, a Hindu man was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district late on Wednesday night. Police identified the victim as 30-year-old Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat.

Authorities said the violence was linked to alleged extortion activities. Police claimed Samrat, described as a local criminal, had arrived in the area to demand extortion money when villagers confronted him, triggering a violent clash. He was later taken to hospital in a critical condition and declared dead. Officials said several cases, including murder, had been registered against him, and that he led a local group allegedly involved in extortion.

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Villagers, however, alleged that Samrat and his associates went to the house of a local resident, Shahidul Islam, to collect money. When the family raised an alarm by shouting “robbers”, locals gathered and assaulted him.

Mymensingh killing over blasphemy allegations

The Rajbari incident came days after another lynching in Mymensingh district, where 27-year-old garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob over unverified allegations of blasphemy. Police said his body was tied to a tree and set on fire before being sent for post-mortem examination.

That killing was condemned by Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which said there was no place for communal hatred or mob violence in a “New Bangladesh” and promised strict action against those responsible.

Violence amid wider unrest

Both incidents have taken place against the backdrop of widespread unrest in Bangladesh following the death of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, which sparked protests, vandalism and attacks on political and diplomatic sites across several parts of the country.

“The unremitting atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, are a matter of grave concern,” Jaiswal said.