Over 1,000 monks from across the Indian state of West Bengal gathered at the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas on Monday to protest against the attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and demand the release of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, Indian media report.
The demonstration was organized under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, with monks arriving at the protest site, about 800 meters from the Petrapole border checkpost, since morning.
West Bengal BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, announced an agitation program at Petrapole border for Wednesday, with members of the Hindu Jagran Manch and other religious groups expected to join the protest.
"We will form a human chain and protest to convey our message of peace to the Indian government and the Bangladesh dispensation, demanding an immediate stop to atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh," a monk at the protest site told Republic World.
Swami Paramatmananda, president of the Bengal chapter of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, told Indian media that the agitation would continue at the Petrapole border until the Bangladesh government takes action to stop attacks on Hindus and temples.
Meanwhile, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has been holding prayer meetings and kirtans at its Albert Road center in Kolkata, demanding the release of Chinmoy and expressing concern over the plight of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Chinmoy, a Hindu spiritual leader, was arrested in Bangladesh on sedition charges and denied bail, triggering protests in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Despite the ongoing protests, cargo movement at the Petrapole border remained normal, with officials reporting that around 400 trucks were going to the Benapole border and about 150 trucks were entering India.
Additionally, 5,000-6,000 people were crossing the border daily, though this number is down from the usual 7,000-8,000.
The West Bengal unit of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti has vowed to continue their protests at the Petrapole border and organize similar demonstrations in Siliguri.
Suvendu Adhikari is expected to join the protests at the largest international checkpost between India and Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi nationals in India for treatment or visiting relatives have been returning home, concerned about the situation in Bangladesh.
There were large crowds at Petrapole waiting to cross over to Bangladesh as their visas had expired.
Iskcon Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das reported that Bangladesh had stopped 63 of their Brahmacharis from entering the country from India, despite having valid visas and documents.
Iskcon has organized several processions and prayer meetings across West Bengal to protest the arrest of their monks in Bangladesh.
Iskcon has called for protests at its centers worldwide, with millions of devotees in over 150 countries coming together to pray for the safety and security of Bangladeshi minorities.
On Sunday, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul participated in a procession at Asansol, and protests were also held in Raghunathpur, Purulia, and Kolkata.