A Hindu man was lynched by a group of villagers in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district following accusations that he had attempted to extort money, according to local media reports. The incident occurred late Wednesday night in Hosendanga village, located in Pangsha upazila. The deceased has been identified as Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, who lived in the same village, Bangladesh daily The Daily Star reported.
Debrata Sarkar, Assistant Superintendent of Police for the Pangsha Circle, said the incident took place around 11 pm. Police and eyewitness accounts cited in the report stated that Mondal, accompanied by several associates, allegedly went to the residence of Shahidul Islam and demanded money. When the family raised an alarm, villagers gathered at the spot.
While the others managed to escape, Mondal was apprehended by locals. He was allegedly carrying weapons at the time and was beaten by the crowd. He was later taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Who was Amrit Mondal?
Mondal, 29, was known locally as Samrat and was a resident of Hosendanga village in the Pangsha area of Rajbari. According to police officials and residents quoted by The Daily Star, he was allegedly linked to a criminal gang and had been involved in extortion and other illegal activities for a prolonged period.
A report by Bengali daily Prothom Alo stated that Mondal had formed a group bearing his own name, which police and locals described as a “terror outfit” operating in the area. The group was allegedly involved in intimidation, extortion and various criminal acts. Authorities said one of his associates, Mohammad Selim, has been arrested in connection with the case, and firearms were reportedly recovered from Selim’s possession.
Police records cited by both newspapers indicated that Mondal had at least two cases pending at Pangsha Police Station, including a murder charge.
Other incidents of violence
In a separate incident the same evening, a young man died in Dhaka after being injured by a crude bomb allegedly thrown from a flyover, according to official sources cited in local reports. The blast occurred around 7.30 pm beneath a flyover near the gate of the Muktijoddha Central Command Council. The victim, believed to be between 20 and 22 years old, was reportedly drinking tea at a roadside stall when he was struck.
The incidents follow another recent case of mob violence, in which 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das was allegedly beaten to death, with reports claiming his body was tied to a tree and set on fire. These episodes have taken place amid heightened tensions in parts of Bangladesh following the killing of Osman Hadi in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area. Hadi, a prominent figure during last year’s student protests, died from gunshot wounds on December 18.
Interim government chief Mohammad Yunus said that immediate action had been ordered in the Shahbagh case, adding that at least 10 people have been arrested so far.