'Brutal' killing of Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh draws India's ire, sharp rebuke for Yunus regime

India on Saturday slammed Bangladesh over the alleged abduction and killing of a Hindu minority leader. External Affairs Ministry criticised Dhaka and called for the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the minorities. 

The 'brutal killing' of Bhabesh Chandra Roy was condemned by India. Taking to social media, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the recent killing follows a "pattern of systematic persecution" of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. 

"We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh," he said.

Earlier too there were incidents of protesters targeting Hindu minorities in the country after deposed PM Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka in August last year. 

"We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions," he added.

Massive anti-government protests broke out in the country last year forcing Hasina to flee to India. Since then Bangladesh-India relations have become strained. EAM S. Jaishankar on several occasions criticised the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus for failing to contain attacks against the minorities. 

Who was Bhabesh Chandra Roy? 

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a Hindu leader residing in Dinajpur's Biral was, reportedly, beaten to death last week after he was abducted from his home. 

Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. According to Roy's wife, he got a call around 4:30 pm on Friday. She told Bangladesh-based daily The Daily Star that four men arrived at his residence and abducted him.