KOLKATA: Sixty-three Iskcon monks, all Bangladeshis with valid travel documents, were prevented from crossing over to India on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, several Bangladeshi media outlets and Iskcon Kolkata reported on Sunday.

A day after the second Hindu monk, Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested in Bangladesh, two other disciples of arrested spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das have also gone missing in Chattogram, ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das claimed on Saturday.

The Bangladesh government has arrested and imprisoned two monks from ISKCON under what appear to be false charges and these actions are reportedly retaliatory as the monks had led protests demanding protection for the lives and property of minority communities,

ISKCON's mass prayers in hundreds of temples come in the backdrop of unconfirmed reports of the arrest of three more ISKCON priests, days after the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmay Das.

According to officials, those trying to cross the Benapole border did not have the required documents to proceed

ISKCON followers held prayers and 'kirtan' at its Albert Road centre in Kolkata to highlight the plight of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, where they are suffering atrocities.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with Bangladesh government.

Bangladesh's immigration police on Sunday turned back 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) who possessed valid travel documents and wanted to cross into India fro

Bangladesh's immigration police on Sunday turned back 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) who possessed valid travel documents and wanted to cross into India from the Benapole border checkpoint.

Bangladesh immigration authorities barred 54 ISKCON monks from entering India despite having valid visas, citing a lack of government approval.

Bangladesh's immigration authorities at the Benapole border denied entry to 54 Iskcon members despite valid documents, citing the absence of specific government approval. This follows heightened scrutiny of Iskcon amidst the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and subsequent tension and protests among Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.