Police alert as Chinmoy's parole likely following mother's demise
Collage of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and his mother Sandhya Rani Dhar. Collected.
The mother of jailed former ISKCON organizer Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari passed away on Thursday morning around 9:30 AM. Police said that there is a possibility of his temporary release on parole to attend his mother's last rites.
Chinmoy’s elder brother, Ranjan Kumar Dhar, confirmed the passing of their mother, Sandhya Rani Dhar (71). He shared that she had been suffering from lung infection, low blood pressure, and various other health complications while undergoing treatment at Chattogram's Agrabad Mother and Child Hospital.
As her condition turned critical on Wednesday, the family submitted a parole application to the District Magistrate. However, that initial request was denied because current regulations do not grant parole solely for a relative's illness.
Following her final wish, Sandhya Rani was taken to the Pundarik Dham in Mekhal village under Chattogram’s Hathazari upazila on Wednesday night, where Chinmoy previously served as a priest. She breathed her last there the following morning. Ranjan Kumar Dhar noted that the funeral rites will take place at Pundarik Dham and that the family is approaching the district administration again regarding parole.
When asked about the situation, Chattogram’s Additional District Magistrate, Syed Mahbubul Huq, said that the executive administration would not issue a direct parole decision. Instead, because Chinmoy is an accused in an ongoing sub-judice case, the family must petition the court for appropriate orders. Chattogram Division DIG Prisons, Mohammad Sagir Mia, added that the prison authorities will act strictly according to instructions issued by either the court or the District Magistrate.
Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari Circle) Kazi Mohammad Tarek Aziz confirmed the possibility of Chinmoy’s parole release. He said that if granted, Chinmoy will be brought to Hathazari. Police personnel have already been deployed at Pundarik Dham, and additional reserve forces are being mobilized to maintain order.
Assistant Commissioner (Media) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Kazi Aminur Rashid has told Agaamir Somoy that after learning about the death of Chinmoy Das’s mother, the Commissioner sir alerted everyone. Everyone at the field level has been instructed to remain on maximum alert so that no one can cause any incident like before. If the district administration permits his release on parole, adequate security measures will be taken on the route for bringing the prisoner to and from the court.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari’s family name is Chandan Kumar Dhar. His home is in Satkania Upazila of Chattogram. He is the spokesperson of an organization named Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote.
Chinmoy was arrested on 25 November 2024 in a sedition case filed over allegedly insulting the national flag. The next day, when he was produced in a Chattogram court, an order was issued to send him to jail. At that time, a clash occurred between his followers and law enforcement. Meanwhile, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was beaten and hacked to death on Patharghata Bandel Road adjacent to the court.
In that incident, Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, filed a murder case naming 31 people. Later, on the application of the investigation officer, the court ordered that Chinmoy Das be shown as arrested in that case.
There are a total of six cases against Chinmoy. Among them, the trial of the lawyer murder case is ongoing in Chattogram’s Speedy Trial Tribunal.
He has secured bail from the High Court in five cases.
