The lynching of a second Hindu man in Bangladesh has been linked by the country’s interim government to alleged extortion and criminal activities that he was involved in.
In a press release, the interim administration led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it “strongly condemned” the killing, but added that it was “not at all a communally-motivated incident” as opposed to a “particular segment” trying to project it as “communal attack”.
“From the information provided by the police and from preliminary investigation, it appears that it was not at all a communally motivated attack. It is related to extortion and terrorist activities,” stated the press statement.
The press release further said that “the person killed is top terrorist Amrit Mandal Samrat, who came to the area seeking money and died after clashes with the angry local people”.
The incident took place on Wednesday in Rajbari town’s Pangsha upazila, a local newspaper quoted police as saying. Samrat, who had had allegedly formed a criminal gang and was involved in extortion and other criminal activities, was beaten up by locals when he, along with his group members, tried to extort money from a resident’s house, the report said.
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Upon receiving information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and rescued him in a critical condition. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead around 2.00 am, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Pangsha Circle) Debrata Sarkar said, according to the report.
Samrat’s body was sent to Rajbari Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy, Sarkar said.
Although most of his associates fled after the incident, the police arrested an accomplice, Salim, and recovered a foreign pistol and a pipegun.
Three cases have already been registered in the matter, the press note said. Police say Samrat had at least two cases filed against him, including a murder case.
The interim government’s press note further said that it “does not support any kind of illegal activities, mass beatings or violence,” and urged “all concerned sections” to “behave in a responsible way”.
“The government has noted with great concern at the same time that a certain segment has made the unholy attempt to highlight the religious identity of the slain person and describe it as a communal attack,” said the note, adding that legal action will be taken against everyone directly or indirectly involved in the incident.
The incident comes a week after Dipu Das, a man of Hindu faith, was lynched and his body set on fire over blasphemy allegations in Mymensingh. Police and other law enforcement agencies have made 12 arrests in the case so far.
Das’ killing sparked widespread protests by factory workers, students and rights groups in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh, as well as in India, with the government also expressing its concerns.
The interim government has since said it would take care of Das’ minor child, as well as his wife and parents.
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