Chattogram, Bangladesh – The tragic killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif has led to the filing of two additional lawsuits involving a total of 147 named individuals and between 410 to 515 unnamed persons. The violent incident, which also saw clashes involving police and protesters, followed courtroom tensions over the jailing of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Bramachari.
Late Friday night, Jamal Uddin, Alif’s father, initiated legal proceedings at Kotwali Police Station against 31 individuals and an additional 10 to 15 unidentified parties. This information was confirmed by Kazi Md Tarek Aziz, the additional deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. Another lawsuit saw Khan-e-Alam, Alif’s elder brother, separately accusing 116 named and 400 to 500 unnamed individuals of involvement.
The community has expressed significant discontent due to the apparent omission of Chinmoy Krishna from the lawsuit charges. Chinmoy serves as the spokesperson for the Samonnito Sanatoni Jagoron Jote and is a former leader of ISKCON. Lawyers and local observers criticized this exclusion, highlighting potential oversights in the accountability process.
Among the accused in both cases are several community members including Chandan, Aman Das, Shuvo Kanti Das, and other individuals linked to the protest and subsequent violence. The incident that claimed Alif’s life occurred on November 26, amid escalating confrontations that erupted over the refusal of bail for Chinmoy Krishna, who faces a sedition charge.
Previously, in response to the outbreak of violence which also involved vandalism and obstruction of law enforcement duties, police had registered three cases against 76 identified and approximately 1,400 unnamed suspects. These incidents represent a mounting legal and social crisis in the community, reflecting deep-seated tensions and the challenging role of policing in maintaining order during highly charged situations.
This surge of legal actions and public outcry underscores the complex intersections of law, religion, and community relations in Bangladesh, particularly in cases involving significant public and religious figures.
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