A Chattogram court has granted a five-day remand for Saju Baidya, accused in a case related to a clash between police and followers of former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das at the court premises.
The order was issued by Chattogram’s Fifth Metropolitan Magistrate Begum Ishrat Jahan Jinia today (19 December) after hearing a remand petition filed by the investigating officer.
Confirming the development, Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Md Raihanul Wajed Chowdhury told TBS, “On the day of the incident, locals handed over Saju Baidya to the police after beating him. He had been undergoing treatment since then. Today, he was produced before the court, and the investigating officer sought a seven-day remand. The court approved five days of remand for interrogation.”
Saju is the 10th accused named in the FIR filed by the police in connection with the 26 November clash.
The incident occurred on 26 November when Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was brought to the Chattogram Court in connection with a sedition case. The court rejected his bail petition, leading his followers to block the prison van and stage protests in and around the court premises.
The protests escalated into a clash when police resorted to baton charges and sound grenades to disperse the crowd after nearly three hours of unrest. The demonstrators vandalised vehicles, including government cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles in the court area.
At one point, the mob moved toward the Rangam Convention Hall alley, where lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was hacked and beaten to death.
The following day, police filed three cases against 52 named individuals and 600-700 unidentified people, accusing them of vandalism, attacking police, and other charges.
Three more cases have also been filed in this connection, a murder case by Alif’s father, a case of using explosives by Alif’s brother and another case of attempt to murder by a Hefazat-e-Islam activist.
Police so far arrested 39 accused in these cases.
