Tension ran high outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday as Hindutva groups staged a protest, alleging communal violence in Bangladesh and protesting the killing of a Hindu man there.

Hundreds of activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered near the High Commission around noon and attempted to march towards the mission premises. Police stopped them with barricades, but the situation turned chaotic when protesters tried to break through.

Indian police resorted to baton charges to disperse the demonstrators after they attempted to breach the barricades, Indian news agency ANI reported.

Protesters were seen climbing onto barricades, chanting slogans against the Bangladesh government and carrying banners and placards condemning the incident. One placard read: “Hindu blood—accountability for every drop.”

Anticipating the protest, security around the Bangladesh High Commission was tightened from Tuesday morning. The entire area was placed under a three-tier security cover with additional deployment of police and paramilitary forces.

A police official said barricades were erected and adequate forces deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

The protest was triggered by the killing of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, on December 18. Following the incident—where he was beaten to death and his body later set on fire—Hindutva groups in India began demonstrations.

Amid security concerns stemming from these protests, Bangladesh has temporarily suspended visa and consular services at its missions in New Delhi, Siliguri and Agartala.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday again summoned Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma, expressing deep concern over attacks and vandalism targeting Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in India.

In a statement, the ministry said the government is gravely concerned about the unwarranted incidents outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the ambassador’s residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22. It also strongly condemned violent protests targeting other Bangladeshi missions in different parts of India.

Back in Bangladesh, law enforcement agencies have arrested 10 people in connection with the killing of Dipu Chandra Das.

According to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Alamgir Hossain, a floor manager at the factory where Dipu worked, first forced him to resign and later handed him over to an agitated mob. The mob allegedly accused him of blasphemy, beat him to death and set his body on fire.

RAB said Alamgir Hossain and another factory official have been arrested in connection with the incident.