Lynch mob beats 8 people in Dhaka over theft, mugging suspicion

Eight people have been beaten by mobs on suspicion of being thieves and muggers in separate incidents in Dhaka.

Police took the injured to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, or DMCH, after the attacks were reported from the capital’s Jatrabari, Motijheel, Chawkbazar, and Bhatara areas on Sunday.

Jatrabari Police Station Sub-Inspector, or SI, Farzana Akter said, "Locals beat up four people, including three brothers, on suspicion of being muggers in the Konapara area around 11:45am. They were rescued and taken to a hospital."

The injured are Rafiqul Islam, 36, Rabiul Islam, 40, Ripon Miah, 42, and Sohag Miah, 54, from Narayanganj’s Fatullah.

She said, "The injured have been taken to the police station after treatment. An investigation on the matter is under way.”

Motijheel Police Station SI Saddam Hossain said, "A young man named ‘Tanmoy’, 17, was caught and beaten by locals while fleeing with a woman's purse in the Motijheel AGB Colony area. He was later rescued and taken to a hospital."

Chawkbazar Police Station SI Jahurul Islam said locals beat up 18-year-old Apu and 32-year-old Ali, both identified by single names, for stealing paper cartons in the Bakshi Bazar area.

"They were taken to DMCH for treatment in the afternoon."

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man named Manik Mia was caught by locals while running off with a mobile, wallet and laptop from a house’s fourth floor in Bhatara’s Solmaid area in the morning.

Bhatara Police Station SI Kamruzzaman said the victim was taken to DMCH afterwards.