A Hindu youth was beaten to death by a mob on charges of blasphemy in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district on Thursday night. This incident has happened at a time when violent protests have started in the country after the death of Sharif Usman Hadi, the leader of anti-Sheikh Hasina student movement.
According to the incident, the deceased has been identified as Deepu Chandra Das. He was a young garment factory worker and, according to local police, some people accused him of making offensive remarks against the Prophet Muhammad. Around 9 pm, a large mob attacked him and brutally beat him to death.
Police and officials said that even after the killing, the crowd did not calm down. The fanatics tied the body of the young man to a tree and then burnt it. Police reached the spot and took control of the situation and took possession of the body. The body was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.
So far, no case has been registered against anyone in this brutal murder case. Police said they are trying to trace the victim’s family and legal action will be taken after a formal complaint is lodged.
In particular, this incident has happened at a time when violent protests have started in many parts of Bangladesh after the death of Sharif Usman Hadi, the anti-India leader and spokesman of the radical organization Inqlab Manch. Hadi was shot by bike-riding attackers in Dhaka on December 12. He was flown by air ambulance to Singapore, where he died on Thursday.
This incident has created a sense of fear and insecurity among religious minorities and ordinary citizens in Bangladesh. The authorities have stepped up extra security to control the situation and efforts are on to prevent the spread of violence.