Lawyer killed in confrontation over Chinmoy's jail order

Advocate Saiful Islam Alif was killed on Tuesday during a clash between followers of controversial Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and law enforcement at a court in Chattogram, where the protesters were demanding his release.

Brigadier General Mohammed Taslim Uddin, Director of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), confirmed the death, stating that the victim had sustained fatal head injuries from hacking.

Witnesses, including Advocate Mokter Uddin Sagar, reported that unidentified attackers dragged Advocate Saiful to the ground floor of the court, assaulted him, and ultimately hacked him to death.

A total of 26 people were injured during the incident, with Hindu protesters rampaging through the court premises and surrounding areas. Six of the injured were treated at CMCH, while 19 others were admitted to Chattogram General Hospital.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam denied bail for Chinmoy and sent him to jail in a sedition case for allegedly disrespecting the national flag.

Following the jail order, Chinmoy’s supporters took to the streets in an attempt to block the prison van from transporting him to jail. As a result, the van was unable to leave the court premises for over three hours.

At one point, police and BGB personnel fired sound grenades to disperse the protesters, which led to a violent clash.

The protesters went on a rampage in the Laldighi and Kotwali areas, vandalizing vehicles and buildings, as confirmed by Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Fazlul Qader.

Locals reported that the protesters also smashed windows of the court's central mosque, causing mosque-goers to join police in driving them out.

Five lawyer’s cars and ten other vehicles were also vandalized during the incident.

At some point, Advocate Saiful Islam was found injured and rushed to CMCH, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.