Two men were beaten to death and four others were injured in a mob attack over alleged robbery suspicion at Satkania in Chattogram Monday evening.
The deceased are identified as Mohammad Nezam Uddin, 45, son of Mahmudul Haq from Madhyam Kanchana at Kanchana union, and Mohammad Salek, 35, son of Abdur Rahman from Gurguri at Kanchana union.
The injured are Obaidul Haq, 22, Nasir Uddin, 38, Abbas Uddin, 38, and Mohammad Mamunur Rashid, 45. They are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the port city.
The incident took place in Chhonkhola area of Churamani village at Kanchana union at about 10:00pm on Monday, said Saiful Islam Santu, superintendent of police of Chattogram district.
He said, 鈥榁illagers surrounded them on suspicion of being robbers. Two individuals died due to mob beating. We are investigating the matter to unearth the actual cause of the incident.鈥�
A pistol was recovered from the scene, Saiful said, adding that the weapon was similar to the type used by law enforcers.
鈥榃e are also looking into the matter,鈥� the superintendent of police said.
Satkania police station officer-in-charge Zahedul Islam said, 鈥榃hen the victims went to Chhonkhola area of Churamani village in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, an announcement was made over the mosque鈥檚 microphone, alerting locals about suspected robbers in the area. Locals surrounded them and beat them up, resulting in the death of two individuals.鈥�
Zahedul said that police seized a foreign-made pistol, eight empty cartridges and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw from the scene.
The bodies of the deceased were recovered and sent to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy early Tuesday, he said, adding that the injured were currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in the city.
The OC also said, 鈥楢n investigation to uncover the entire matter is underway.鈥�
Alaudin Talukder, sub-inspector at the CMCH police outpost, said that the injured were initially taken to CMCH, but later transferred to a private hospital in Chattogram city for further treatment.
Local sources said that Nezam had returned from a Middle East country on August 5, 2024. Monday evening, he along with a few others visited Chhonkhola at Kanchana union. As they left the mosque in the area after Tarawih prayers, locals surrounded them, suspecting them to be robbers, and an announcement was made over the mosque鈥檚 microphone in this connection.
Nezam allegedly fired gunshots at the crowd, injuring several people, which further enraged the mob, the sources said.
An official complaint detailing these allegations has been lodged with the deputy inspector general of police, Chattogram range.
