Two killed in planned mob lynching
Not long after the four people were beaten to death in Shariatpur on Friday night, two people were killed in a planned mass beating in Satkania, Chittagong on Monday. The next day, on Tuesday, two Iranian citizens were beaten up by forming a mob in Bhatara, the capital, after being branded as robbers. On the same night, a group of miscreants spread the news that there was 200-300 crore taka in a house in Gulshan, the capital, and vandalized and looted it. In these cases, ‘mobs’ are being cleverly created to satisfy political conflicts and personal interests. The ‘mass beating’ trap of the ‘disgruntled public’ is being used to kill and loot opponents. The number of killings in mass beatings has increased almost four times compared to the previous year in the last six months. Most of such cases are taking place in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong. This information has been obtained from victims and law enforcement sources.
Crime experts say that there is almost no precedent for punishment in cases of mass beatings and murders. Law enforcement agencies are not fully active in preventing crimes like theft and robbery. As a result, another criminal gang is exploiting people’s anger against criminals. They are trapping them in mass beatings and committing incidents like beatings and murders. Innocent people are also being beaten and killed by falling into such traps. They said that those involved in such crimes should be faced with strict legal measures. At the same time, if the leaders and activists of political parties are involved in these activities, strict action should be taken, including expulsion from the party. Only then can incidents like mass beatings be reduced.
Analyzing the statistics of the human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), it has been found that the number of casualties in mass beatings has increased after the fall of the government on August 5. The number of deaths in mass beatings in the six months from August to January 2023 was 29. 112 people were killed in mass beatings in the six months from August to January of this year, the month of political change in 2024. Accordingly, one person is being killed every 38 hours in the name of mass beatings.
Statistics show that 21 people died in mob lynchings in August, the month of the change of government. In the following month, 28 people died in mob lynchings, which is the same as the entire year of 2021. In October last year, 19 people died in mob lynchings, 14 in November and 14 in December. In January this year, 16 people were killed in mob lynchings.
According to ASK statistics, 128 people were killed in mob lynchings in 2024. Of these, 57 were in Dhaka division, 19 in Rajshahi and 17 in Chittagong. 51 people were killed in mob lynchings in 2023, 36 in 2022, 28 in 2021 and 35 in 2020.
It has been alleged that Nezam Uddin and Abu Salek were killed in a planned mob lynching in Satkania, Chittagong on Monday night. The two were beaten to death on Monday night in Chhonkhola Churamoni village of Aochia union near Kanchana, calling them ‘robbers’. Satkania police station OC Jahedul Islam said that when the deceased went to Chhonkhola Churamoni village in a CNG-powered autorickshaw, they were declared robbers on the loudspeaker. Then the locals surrounded them and beat them up, killing both of them.
Claiming that the deceased Nezam and Salek were their workers, Jamaat-e-Islami Kanchana union secretary Zayed Hossain said that they were ‘trapped’ and taken there in a planned manner in the name of arbitration. Later, after beating them to death, they were declared robbers on the loudspeaker. The beaters did not let anyone go to the spot until their death was confirmed. Even trees were cut down and left on the road.
Last Friday night, a group of robbers attempted to rob a bulkhead at Rajachar in Madaripur when shipping workers and locals chased them. At one stage, the robbers tried to escape by speedboat by firing shots. Later, they were caught in the Domsar area of Shariatpur. Seven people were injured in the mob attack. When the injured robbers were taken to the hospital, two were declared dead by doctors. Later, another person died while undergoing treatment. The police recovered the body of another person from the Kirtinasha River.
Recently, two people suspected of being robbers were beaten and injured in Uttara in the capital, and then they were tied to ropes and hung upside down from a pedestrian bridge. A young man died in a beating on suspicion of being a robber in Tongi. Law enforcement officials are not left out either. On February 28, a ‘mob’ was created in Patenga, Chittagong city, and police officer Yusuf Ali was harassed and beaten. A mob was created by creating a false police complaint and snatching the police officer’s mobile phone and wallet.
Earlier, former ministers and MPs and judges were beaten up in the court premises. A young man named Utsab Mandal was beaten up in the presence of law enforcement officers at the Khulna Metropolitan Police South Division office on charges of insulting Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). Former Rajshahi University (RU) Chhatra League leader Abdullah Al Masud was also beaten to death recently.
Human rights activists and lawyers said that the increase in mass beatings reflects the deterioration of law and order. Mass beatings are increasing due to people’s lack of trust in law enforcement and the judiciary. Despite these increases day after day, the incidents are increasing because the government is not taking any effective measures. And due to political and personal conflicts, there are also incidents of killing in mass beatings by trapping opponents. Mass beatings are ‘murder’ in the eyes of the law and the people involved in it are murderers.
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