Mob Thwarts Daylight Cattle Theft and Detains Serial Offender

A brazen daylight cattle theft in Joypurhat’s Khetlal sub-district ended in vigilante justice after local villagers thwarted the escape of a notorious suspect. The dramatic apprehension occurred at approximately midday on Saturday, when the thief was caught red-handed attempting to guide a stolen cow across the Chiri River in the neighbouring Akkelpur region.

The victim of the theft, Ruhul Amin, a resident of Mohabbatpur village, had tethered his two cows outside his home in the morning, a standard routine in the agricultural locality. Upon returning two hours later, Amin discovered that one of his animals was missing and immediately initiated a search.

Meanwhile, residents of Palsha village in Akkelpur became suspicious when they spotted an unfamiliar middle-aged man forcing a cow across the Chiri River. When questioned by the locals regarding the ownership of the animal, the suspect adamantly maintained that the cow belonged to him. However, word of the theft in Mohabbatpur quickly spread across the river network, prompting Palsha residents to contact Amin, who rushed to the scene and positively identified his property.

The confrontation quickly escalated as an incensed crowd gathered. The mob subjected the suspect to a severe beating before police intervention could be secured. Upon receiving reports of the unrest, a team from the Akkelpur Police Station arrived at the location, rescued the bloodied suspect, and took him into custody along with the retrieved livestock.

The detained individual has been identified as 55-year-old Shafiqul Islam, also known as Nur Alam, a resident of Hanail Dighirpar village in the Joypurhat Sadar sub-district. According to senior police officials, Alam is a seasoned offender with a long-standing criminal record, currently facing multiple active cases related to cattle rustling across the district.

Local resident Fazulur Rahman noted that the suspect’s unfamiliarity and the unusual manner of crossing the river immediately raised red flags among the farming community. Inspector Mominul Islam, head of investigations at Akkelpur Police Station, confirmed that formal charges are currently being processed against the serial offender. The recovered cow remains in protective police custody and will be officially handed back to its rightful owner following a mandatory presentation before the local court.