Sound grenades fired, batons charged on Chinmoy's supporters

Law enforcers fired sound grenades and charged batons to disperse devotees and followers of former ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, who had gathered on the Chattogram magistrate's court premises demanding the release of their leader.

The protesters vandalised several motorbikes at the court as well.

Earlier, Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam sent the former ISKCON leader, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, to jail in a sedition case alleging him of disrespecting the national flag.

Immediately after the court's order around 12:00pm, his followers started to protest, disrupting movement of the prison van carrying Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Later, police and members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) fired sound grenades and charged batons on the protesters to clear the way of the van. Protesters were shouting slogans demanding the release of Chinmoy Krishna's.

The van was finally able to leave the court premises around 3:00pm.

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Ex-ISKCON leader sent to jail

However, Chinmoy Krishna called on his followers to remain calm from inside the prison van. He said, "We are not against the state and the government. We, the Sanatanis, are a part of the state.... We will not do anything to destabilise the state and destroy peaceful coexistence. We will hold a peaceful protest by controlling our emotions and turning them into strength."

Announcing the continuation of the protest, he said, "Our eight-point demands are fundamental issues. This is not an unreasonable demand. Do continue the protest until it is fulfilled. But please ensure stability and harmony. That is what I expect."