Bangladesh police have arrested the main accused in the lynching of Hindu garment worker Dipu Das, a violent attack that has drawn global condemnation amid ongoing attacks on minorities in the country.
Yasin Arafat, a former teacher, is believed to have played a central role in planning and executing the mob assault in Mymensingh district on December 18. Das, 27, was first forced to resign by his factory supervisors and handed over to an enraged crowd. The mob reportedly beat him to death, hanged his body from a tree, and set it on fire, with some colleagues allegedly joining in the attack.
Authorities said Arafat fled the area immediately after the killing but was arrested on Thursday. Police said he orchestrated the violence, inciting others to gather and target Das. He personally dragged Das to an intersection where the lynching took place, demonstrating a leadership role that escalated the attack.
Also read: Hindu shop owner murdered in Bangladesh
Arafat’s prior position as a teacher at a mosque is now under scrutiny, as investigators examine whether his influence extended beyond the immediate events of the lynching. With his arrest, the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case has reached 21. Police continue to probe for other suspects who may have participated in the incident.
The lynching has coincided with a disturbing surge in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. In the days following Das’s death, at least five other Hindu men have been killed; Amrit Mondal in Rajbari was beaten to death; Bajendra Biswas was shot in Mymensingh; Khokon Chandra Das, a businessman, was stabbed and set on fire in Shariatpur; Rana Pratap, a newspaper editor and businessman, was shot in Jessore; and in Naogaon, a 25-year-old man drowned while fleeing a mob that suspected him of theft.
Authorities have condemned the attacks and vowed to continue the investigation, while the arrest of Arafat is being viewed as a significant step in delivering justice in the lynching case.
Follow us
