A mob of miscreants allegedly attacked another Hindu man, seriously injuring him and then setting him on fire in Damudya area of Shariatpur, Bangladesh.
According to local newspaper Prothom Alo, the incident occurred around 9:30 pm (local time) on New Year’s Eve on Wednesday, when miscreants attacked 50-year-old businessman Khokon Chandra Das, seriously injured him, poured petrol on his body and set him on fire near Keurbhanga market in Koneshwar Union of Damudya.
According to Prothom Alo report, Das was later shifted to Dhaka for better treatment.
According to sources at Damudya police station, Das, a resident of Tiloi village in Koneshwar union, runs a pharmacy and mobile banking business in Keurbhanga market.
On Wednesday night, after closing his shop, Das was returning home in an auto-rickshaw when miscreants stopped the vehicle on the Damudya-Shariatpur road near Keurbhanga market and attacked him.
According to Prothom Alo’s report, the miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons and later poured petrol on him and set him on fire. To save himself, Das jumped into a pond located on the roadside.
Hearing his screams, the local people rushed to the spot, forcing the attackers to flee.
He was later rescued by the local people and taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, where he was given initial treatment in the emergency department and later as his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment the same night.
After the attack, the victim’s wife Seema Das told reporters, “My husband returns home every night after closing his shop with the money from the day’s sales. On Wednesday night, criminals attacked him. He recognized two of the attackers, and that is why they beat him up with the intention of killing him. They attacked him with sharp weapons and poured petrol on his head and face and set him on fire. We have no enemies in this area. We have no feud with anyone. We do not understand.” Wondering why the criminals suddenly targeted my husband.”
Dr. Nazrul Islam, posted in the emergency department of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, said that the person was brought to the emergency department at night.
There were injury marks on various parts of his body. Due to a serious stomach injury, he was sent to Dhaka for better treatment. Apart from this, Das also had burn marks on his face, back of his head and hands.
“After receiving information about a terrorist attack on a trader in Keurbhanga market, we rushed to the spot. Two of the attackers have been identified. They are local residents Rabbi and Sohag. Efforts are on to arrest them. We are also trying to identify others involved in the incident,” said Mohammad Rabiul Haq, officer-in-charge (OC) of Damudya police station.
Last month, two incidents of lynching of Hindu youth were also reported in Bangladesh.
Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, was beaten to death by a mob on alleged blasphemy charges, his body was hanged and set on fire on December 18.
Meanwhile, another Hindu youth named Amrit Mandal was beaten to death on charges of extortion in Hosendanga village of Kalimohor union in Pangsha sub-district of Rajbari.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation among political leaders, religious organizations and minority groups in Bangladesh and India.