A 32-year-old man has died after allegedly being beaten by a group of villagers on suspicion of theft in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur, northern Bangladesh. The incident took place early on Monday in Madarpur (Khiarchara) village, under Ranipukur Union No. 2.
The deceased, Khalid Hasan, was the son of Mahbub Islam, a former teacher from Rupsi Gachhuapara village in Mithapukur. His father had taught at the local Madarpur madrasa.
According to police and local sources, the incident began when Abu Sayeed, the owner of a house in the Khiarchara area of Madarpur, allegedly spotted Khalid inside his cowshed in the early hours of Monday. Suspecting him of theft, the homeowner reportedly tied him to a tree and called other villagers to the scene. Khalid was then allegedly beaten by those present and died at the scene.
Police subsequently arrived and recovered the body. It was sent to the mortuary at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.
Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Mithapukur Police Station, confirmed that the body had been recovered and sent for a post-mortem examination. He stressed that no one had the right to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the nature of an allegation.
The officer also said that Khalid’s family was preparing to file a case. He added that the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the death, including why the homeowner allegedly did not contact the police before the situation escalated.
The incident has drawn attention to the dangers of mob violence, particularly when individuals are accused of crimes without the allegations being investigated through lawful procedures. A suspicion of theft, by itself, does not establish guilt, and any allegation must be examined by the appropriate authorities.
The death in Mithapukur follows another reported incident of mob violence in Rangpur district on Sunday. Two people were reportedly killed in a beating by a crowd in Gangachara upazila over allegations of auto-rickshaw theft.
The two incidents, reported on consecutive days, raise concerns about the use of collective violence to punish people suspected of wrongdoing. Under the rule of law, allegations of criminal activity must be investigated by the police, while guilt and punishment must be determined through the legal process.
In Khalid’s case, the post-mortem examination and police investigation are expected to help clarify the circumstances of his death. The proposed legal action by his family may also lead to further proceedings as investigators seek to establish responsibility for the incident.
