A Muslim cleric from Darrang district, Assam, named Bilal Ali, has been arrested for allegedly endorsing the lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh via social media. Das was killed by a mob in Mymensingh district, igniting widespread outrage. Ali, a Hafiz and former imam, is the second arrest linked to online support for the violence, following Mohd. Sheikh Akhtar Ali’s detention for posting a supportive video that depicted Das being assaulted and killed. Authorities reported Das, a garment factory worker, was beaten, hanged, and burned, triggering concerns over the safety of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
The interim Bangladeshi government, led by Muhammad Yunus, condemned the incident, while critics claim that safety measures for minorities are insufficient. In response to the lynching, Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion apprehended seven suspects, including individuals aged 19 to 46. The incident has spurred protests in India and raised calls for stronger protections for minority communities and accountability for the attackers.