December 3, 2024: ISKCON India has reported a brutal attack on Advocate Ramen Roy, the lawyer defending Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk arrested on sedition charges in Bangladesh. According to ISKCON, Roy was assaulted at his home by a group of Islamists and is now in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), struggling for his life.

The incident, which took place on Monday night, has shocked both local and international communities. Radharamn Das, Vice President and spokesperson of ISKCON India, condemned the attack, tweeting, "Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life."

In an interview with a Bengali news channel, Radharamn Das emphasized that the attack was a direct consequence of Roy’s legal defense of Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on November 25, 2024, at the Dhaka airport. "This reflects the growing danger faced by those who defend the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh," he added.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, formerly an ISKCON monk, was charged with sedition for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally in October. After his expulsion from ISKCON, he became a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanmilito Sanatani Jagoron Jot, a group advocating for the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh.

His arrest has sparked widespread protests in Dhaka and Chittagong, where clashes between his supporters and security forces led to violent confrontations. During these protests, a Muslim lawyer was killed in Chittagong, and at least 33 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence.

The situation comes amidst ongoing tensions in Bangladesh, where religious minorities, particularly Hindus, have faced escalating violence. The trouble began earlier this year after student protests over a controversial quota system evolved into mass anti-government demonstrations, which ultimately led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Since then, Bangladesh's Hindu community, which makes up only about 8% of the country's population, has been subjected to over 200 incidents of violence.