Dhaka, July 21 (UNB) – Despite the warning by the police administration not to take the law into own hands, angry mobs continued to attack suspected child-lifters in different districts, killing another man and injuring 12 others.
After the killing of three people in mass beating in Dhaka and Narayanganj districts in a day as they were suspected to be child-lifters, the Police Headquarters on Saturday urged all not to take the law into own hands.
However, angry mobs were seen paying little heed to the warning.
According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, a youth was killed in a lynch-mob attack by tea garden workers Deorachhara Tea Estate in Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar on Saturday night.
The identity of the deceased could not be known.
Md Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kamalganj Police Station, said the tea garden workers found the youth roaming ‘suspiciously’ at Nimtala at night and instantly started beating him.
The garden authorities took him to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Besides, locals gave a good beating to a rickshaw-puller in front of the Forest Office near Chandnighat Bridge in the district town on Sunday afternoon over the child-lifting rumour.
The victim was identified as Chandan Paul, son of Kalipad Paul of Sreemangal upazila.
Md Alamgir Hossain, OC of Moulvibazar Model Police Station, said passersby started beating Chandan as he was looking for an acquaintance in the area.
Later, police rescued the man, he said.
In Naogaon, villagers beat six fishermen in Manda upazila on Sunday after a rumour spread around that they were child-lifters.
Mozaffar Hossain, Manda Police Station OC, said the fishermen went to net small fish at the request of pond owner Ranjit Kumar Chowdhury at Buridaha village in the upazila in the morning.
However, a fight broke out between the two parties when they caught some big fish.
At one point, locals started beating the fishermen branding them as child-lifters, the OC added.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Md Iqubal Hossain urged people not to pay heed to any such rumour.
In Rajshahi, three youths were beaten after they were suspected to be child-lifters at Binodpur Mizaner Mor in the city on Sunday afternoon.
Hafizur Rahman, OC of Motihar Police Station, said on information they rushed to the spot and rescued the youths.
The youths offered chips to local children on behalf of a company while the locals beat them after they failed to show their identity cards, the OC added.
In Tangail, locals gave a good beating to a youth after his ‘suspicious’ movement at Kandila Bazar in Sadar upazila on Sunday.
Later, police rescued the victim and took him to Tangail General Hospital.
In Cumilla, angry mob beat a young man at Majhigachha in Sadar upazila on Sunday morning, leaving him injured.
The victim was identified as Arif, 30, son of Abdur Noor of Nayanpur in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria.
Inspector (Investigation) of Kotwali Model Police Station Md Salauddin said police rescued Arif.
