India condemns lynching of Hindu men in Bangladesh, seeks strict action

India on Friday strongly condemned the recent lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh, expressing deep concern over what it described as a pattern of sustained hostility towards religious minorities in the neighbouring country.

The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi was disturbed by the incidents and stressed that those responsible must be held fully accountable. Addressing the media, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India expects swift and credible action against the perpetrators.

“The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice,” Jaiswal said.

The MEA noted that India has repeatedly raised concerns over attacks on minorities and has rejected what it termed a “false narrative” emerging from Bangladesh regarding such incidents. According to Indian officials, nearly 2,900 cases of violence against minorities have been reported during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim administration.

The condemnation follows two separate lynching incidents this month. In one case, a Hindu man was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district. Police identified the victim as 30-year-old Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat. Authorities claimed the incident stemmed from an alleged extortion dispute, with villagers confronting him after raising an alarm.

The second case involved 27-year-old garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district over unverified allegations of blasphemy. Police said his body was tied to a tree and set on fire before being recovered.

The killing of Das was earlier condemned by Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which said mob violence and communal hatred had no place in the country and promised strict action.

The incidents have occurred amid widespread unrest in Bangladesh following the death of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, which triggered protests, vandalism and attacks on political and diplomatic sites across several regions.

Responding to questions on political developments, Jaiswal said India supports free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh and is closely monitoring the situation. He was commenting on the recent return of Tarique Rahman, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, ahead of the upcoming elections.

India has also flagged concerns over growing instability, the re-entry of groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami into mainstream politics, and the rise of anti-India narratives under the interim administration.