A lawyer was killed in an attack by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) members on the premises of the Chattogram court.
The deceased lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif, was from Lohagara Upazila in Chattogram.
The incident was confirmed today, Tuesday, at 4:30 PM by Dr. Nibedika Ghosh, an on-duty physician at the emergency department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). She added that seven others injured in the clash are receiving treatment at the hospital.
Sarwar Hossain Lavlu, Additional Public Prosecutor of the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court, told Amader Shomoy that ISKCON members created havoc in the court premises, killing the lawyer by hacking and throwing stones at him. Lawyers have demanded justice for this murder and a swift ban on ISKCON.
Eyewitnesses reported that the clash ensued after the court rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON leader accused in a sedition case for desecrating the national flag. The Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam ordered his imprisonment at around 11:45 AM. After the hearing, ISKCON members protested by blocking the police prison van carrying Chinmoy Krishna Das for two and a half hours. The police dispersed the crowd using tear gas and sound grenades at 2:45 PM.
Following this, ISKCON members moved into alleys and began pelting bricks and stones. Worshippers alleged that they vandalized the windows of the central mosque on the court premises. Additionally, three private cars and five motorcycles belonging to lawyers were damaged. In an alley near the Rangan Community Center Hall on the court premises, ISKCON members attacked lawyer Saiful Islam Alif with sharp weapons and later struck his head with a stone. He was rescued and taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Chattogram Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Fazlul Kader Chowdhury told Amader Shomoy that ISKCON members blocked the prison van carrying their expelled leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on the court premises for two and a half hours, starting at 11:45 AM. When police used tear gas to clear the area, ISKCON members dispersed and began attacking various buildings and vehicles. Police are working to bring the situation under control.
