The Indian government on Friday denounced the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, amid protests in New Delhi.

Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, stated:

The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists at the hands of extremists, is a matter of grave concern. We condemn the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in India’s capital city on Tuesday to denounce the lynching of 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker who was lynched and burned alive on allegations of blasphemy in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. The demonstration, primarily organized by the Hindu nationalist group Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), took place outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. 

The protests spark concerns for India-Bangladesh relations, particularly amid the political instability in Bangladesh following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Jaiswal recently dismissed reports in Dhaka’s media about threats to Bangladesh’s diplomats in India, terming such reports as “misleading propaganda.” He further added:  

The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh. There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. The police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes… India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention. 

The incident in Bangladesh is part of a pattern of violence against religious minorities that has escalated since the political transition in Dhaka in 2024. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its affiliates have historically positioned themselves as protectors of Hindu interests globally. Thus, the relationship between the two nations, once a model of cooperation under Hasina, is now strained, with Dhaka summoning the Indian High Commissioner over security concerns at its embassy in India last week.