TL;DR:
- Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed during violent clashes near Chattogram court when followers of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das protested his bail denial in a sedition case.
- Joint security forces detained 30 individuals in an overnight operation across Chattogram, with seven directly linked to the lawyer’s murder and others arrested for attacking law enforcement.
- The violence escalated when protesters blocked Chinmoy’s prison van, leading to clashes with police and BGB forces who used tear gas and sound grenades, resulting in at least 37 injuries including 10 police officers.
- Houses in Sebak Colony were set on fire around 7:30 PM, while the Chattogram District Bar Association called for a court boycott in protest of the killing.
A joint security operation in Chattogram has led to the detention of 30 individuals following the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif during violent clashes between police, lawyers, and followers of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif, 35, was fatally attacked near his chamber on Tuesday afternoon when violence erupted after Brahmachari was denied bail in a sedition case. Physicians at Chittagong Medical College Hospital pronounced Alif dead around 4:30 PM.
The overnight raids, conducted across Patharghata Mathar Patti, Anderkilla, and Hazari Goli areas, resulted in multiple arrests. “Seven of those arrested were directly involved in Saiful’s murder,” confirmed Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Fazlul Kader.
The violence began when supporters of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who faces sedition charges, blocked his prison van following his bail denial. The situation escalated as security forces attempted to clear the way, leading to clashes involving tear gas and sound grenades.
Additional Violence and Injuries
The unrest spread beyond the initial confrontation, with miscreants setting fire to houses in Sebak Colony around 7:30 PM. Eight people received treatment at CMCH for injuries, while 19 others were treated at the city’s General Hospital.
Legal Community Response
The Chattogram District Bar Association has called for a court boycott on Wednesday in protest of the killing. The lawyer’s autopsy was completed Wednesday morning at 8:30 AM, with funeral prayers scheduled at the court premises and Jamiatul Falah National Mosque.
Background of the Conflict
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and 18 others were charged with sedition on October 31 following allegations by Firoz Khan of disrespecting the Bangladeshi national flag during a rally in Chattogram’s New Market area.
Law enforcement continues to investigate the incident while maintaining heightened security measures across the city to prevent further violence.
Source: Bangla Tribune
