India has taken up with Bangladeshi authorities the death threat to a priest of the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka by suspected militants claiming to be from the ISIS even as security at the complex has been beefed up.
The Ramakrishna Mission received a threat letter on Wednesday, which said the priest will be killed if he continues to preach his religion, amid a string of targeted murders across the country by suspected militants in the recent months.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Friday that the Indian High Commission has taken up the issue with Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry and police.
“High Commission of India, Dhaka, has contacted both Bangladesh Police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and have been assured of full support and protection. We are in direct contact with the RK Mission in Dhaka,” he said. He said police presence at the complex was intensified.
Swarup said the First Secretary (Consular) in the High Commission visited the RK Mission in the morning to review the security. The Dhaka Ramakrishna Mission is a branch of the Belur Math in Kolkata. A police official in Dhaka had on Thursday had said the priest received the letter on Wednesday evening.