CALCUTTA: West Bengali crowds today [April 22] attacked the hotel where the new Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner to Calcutta was staying while making preparations to take over his country’s mission here. The new Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Mahdi Masud, checked out of the Hindustan International Hotel in central Calcutta after ruling Congress Party workers and students stormed the hotel lobby and clashed with hotel guards. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the rampaging crowd, one demonstrator and a guard were injured in the clash, Police said.

Mr Masud drove away from the hotel under heavy guard, and a Police officer quoted him as saying he would fly back to New Delhi because he could not find accommodation in any Calcutta hotel. A Hindustani Hotel Employees Union spokesman said the union members had decided not to serve the Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner, who arrived here last night. — Agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by correspondent in Islamabad] The Government of Pakistan has been assured by the Indian High Commissioner here that the Indian Government did not recognise the so-called “Bangla Desh” government and that Pakistan’s previous Deputy High Commissioner in Calcutta, Mr Hossain Ali, who is reported to have declared himself to be a representative of “Bangla Desh” would not be given any diplomatic privileges, a Foreign Office spokesman told newsman here today [April 22].

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021