TDS Desk:

India has condemned the killing of a Hindu leader in Dinjpur. In a statement on Saturday Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry of India, said the incident “follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity.”

Condemning the incident, he reminded “the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions.”

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, was a resident of Basudebpur village under Shatagram Union. He was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area.

Police recovered Bhabesh’s body around 10:00pm on Thursday night.

His wife, Shantana Roy, that Bhabesh was at home in the afternoon when he received a phone call around 4:30pm.

She claimed the call was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home.

Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises.

Witnesses reported seeing the men take him to Narabari village, where he was assaulted.

Later that evening, the attackers reportedly sent Bhabesh’s unconscious body back to his home on a van. Family members, with the help of locals, rushed him to the Biral Upazila Health Complex. He was later transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Police had sent the body to the hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Shantana Roy claimed she recognised two of the assailants.

Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, said preparations were underway to file a case. He said police were working to identify and arrest the suspects involved.