Another incident of deadly violence against a Hindu man has been reported in Bangladesh, occurring just days after the shocking lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, whose body was later set on fire. According to local media reports published on Thursday, the latest victim was a 29-year-old man named Amrit Mondal, also known by the nickname Samrat.
The killing took place in Pangsha sub-district of Rajbari district, a region located roughly three and a half hours away from Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka. The incident reportedly occurred at around 11 pm.
Bangladeshi news outlet The Daily Star quoted local residents who identified Samrat as the leader of a criminal group known as “Samrat Bahini.” The gang was allegedly involved in various illegal activities, including extortion. According to these accounts, Samrat had previously fled Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. He had only recently returned to his native village, Hosendanga, which falls under the Kalimohor Union.
On Wednesday night, at approximately 11 pm, Samrat and several other members of his gang allegedly went to the house of a local resident named Shahidul Islam with the intention of demanding money. When the family members realized what was happening, they began shouting that the men were robbers. Their cries alerted nearby villagers, who rushed to the scene. As the situation escalated, the villagers managed to capture Samrat, while most of the other gang members succeeded in escaping. Samrat was then severely beaten by the crowd and later died from his injuries.
Debrata Sarkar, who serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Police for the Pangsha Circle, reported that the police intervened to rescue a man named Samrat from a violent mob. Despite the efforts of law enforcement to save him, Samrat was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. Unfortunately, medical personnel at the hospital confirmed that he had already succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead.
Sarkar further explained that Samrat had a criminal background, with at least two legal cases filed against him at the Pangsha Police Station. Among these cases, one involved charges of murder, indicating that he was already under investigation for serious offenses prior to this incident.
In a related development, one of Samrat’s associates, identified as Mohammed Selim, was apprehended by the authorities. During his arrest, law enforcement recovered a pistol and an additional firearm from him, suggesting potential involvement in criminal activities.
In response to the incident, the government of Bangladesh released an official statement regarding the nature of Samrat’s death. According to the statement, preliminary investigations conducted by authorities have indicated that the killing was not related to communal tensions or religious differences in any way. The government emphasized its firm condemnation of the killing, reiterating its stance that it does not tolerate any form of extrajudicial actions, mob violence, or unlawful aggression.
The statement also made it clear that legal proceedings will be initiated against all individuals who were either directly involved in the incident or indirectly responsible for it. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies are actively continuing their investigations to identify those accountable and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law.
