A Hindu man was beaten to death by a mob in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district late on Wednesday night, with police saying the killing stemmed from an alleged extortion-related dispute.
The incident comes just days after another Hindu man was lynched in the country over unverified blasphemy allegations, renewing concerns over the growing pattern of mob violence.
The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, a resident of the same village. According to police, Mondal was assaulted around 11 pm after villagers accused him of attempting to collect extortion money. He was found in a critical condition and rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 2 am, Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star reported.
Police detained one of Mondal’s associates, Mohammad Selim, from the spot and recovered two firearms from him — a pistol and a locally made one-shooter gun. Officials said Mondal had several criminal cases pending against him, including a murder case. He was also alleged to be the leader of a local group known as the “Samrat Bahini,” which police claim was involved in intimidating villagers and extortion in the area.
Citing local residents, police said Mondal had recently returned to the village after spending a long period in India and had resumed his activities. On Wednesday night, he and a group of associates allegedly went to the house of Shahidul Islam to demand money. When Shahidul’s family raised an alarm by shouting “robbers,” villagers gathered and assaulted Mondal. While his associates managed to flee, Selim was caught with weapons and later handed over to the police.
The killing follows close on the heels of another lynching in Mymensingh district, where 27-year-old garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy. Police said Das was tied to a tree, assaulted and his body was later set on fire. His remains were recovered and sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The earlier incident was condemned by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which said there was no place for communal hatred or mob violence in what it termed a “New Bangladesh,” and promised strict action against those involved.
Both incidents have taken place amid heightened unrest in Bangladesh following the death of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who died of gunshot injuries while undergoing treatment in Singapore. His death triggered protests, vandalism and attacks on political and diplomatic establishments in several parts of the country, further escalating tensions.