Son-in-law and father-in-law killed in mob lynching over theft charges
Two people were killed in a mob lynching on suspicion of theft in Taraganj, Rangpur. The incident took place at around 9 pm on Saturday (August 9) in the Burirhat Battala area of Sawar Union. The deceased are Ruplal Das (40) of Ghanirampur in Kursha Union of Taraganj Upazila and Pradeep Das (35) of Baluavata village of Mithapukur. They are nephews and in-laws. It has been learned from the family of the deceased, police and eyewitnesses that Nupur Das, daughter of Ruplal Das, was in talks with Dipjal Das, son of Lalchad Das of Shyampur area of Mithapukur. The wedding date was to be fixed today, Sunday. For this, Pradeep Das, driving his van from Mithapukur, set out for Ruplal Das’ house. But not knowing the way through the village, Pradeep Das called Ruplal in Kazirhat area of Sawar Union. Ruplal went there and the two of them rode a rickshaw and set off towards Ghanirampur village. When they reached the Battala area of the Taraganj-Kazirhat road around 9 pm, some people detained them on suspicion of van theft. Then people started gathering there. At one stage, people took out four small plastic bottles from the sack in Pradeep Das’ van. When they opened one of the bottles, the van driver Alamgir Hossain of Pasharipara village and Mehedi Hasan of Burirhat became sick due to the smell of the liquid inside. This increased the people’s suspicions further. They started beating them unconsciously on suspicion of van theft. They were brought to the Burirhat High School grounds from Battala and beaten. At one stage of the beating, they were left there when they became unconscious. Later, at 11 pm, the police rescued them and took them to the Taraganj Upazila Health Complex. At that time, the doctor working at Taraganj Hospital declared Ruplal Das dead. Pradeep Das was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital and he also died on Sunday (August 10) morning, confirmed Khokon Das, brother of the deceased Ruplal Das. Taraganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) MA Faruk said that two people died in the mob lynching. Preparations for a case are underway in this incident.
