Three suspected robbers were beaten to death by mob in Zindapark area of Daudpur union in Rupganj upazila in the district early yesterday.
Of the three, two were Nasir Hossain, 38, son of Abu Mian in Jessore and another Ezazul Islam, 23, son of Nasir Uddin in Narail while the third one could not be known.
Additional superintendent of Police Mukhlesur Rahman (crime) said a group of five to six robbers entered into the house of Abdul Kuddus Sikdar, a businessman, in the area around3:30 am.
They tied up the owner of the house Abdul Kuddus Sikdar, his brother Razzak Sikdar, daughter Josna Sikdar with rope and beat them severely and snatched the keys of steel Almirah and looted Tk1 lakh and 30 vorie of gold ornaments.
Hearing the screams of house inmates, locals rushed in and caught three of them while the others managed to flee.
They gave the trio a severe thrashing, leaving two of them dead on the spot and another died on the way to hospital. Two knives and two cocktails were recovered from their possession.
The three bodies were sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for Autopsy.
Deputy Commissioner Anisur Rahman Miah and Superintendent of Police Dr Khondoker Mohid Uddin visited the spot.
It is mentionable eight suspected robbers were killed and four others injured in a lynch-mob attack in Araihazar upazila of the district on December 10, 2015, during their bid to ‘loot a rice godown’.
Four of the dead were Shawkat, 30, and Rubel, 28, hailed from Madyapara village in Mymensingh district, Razib alias Rony, 35, from Noakhali and Jewel alias Titu, 32.
Inspector (investigation ) Arifur Rahman of Araihazar police station said the four dead and injured were identified through the call list of their mobile phones.
Narayanganj ASP M Jahirul Islam said police sent four injured people to Araihazar Health Complex under police custody after rescuing them from the spot.
Quoting local people, the ASP said, ‘a gang of robbers’ broke the locks of ‘Bhai Bhai Store’ at Purinda Bazar under Satgram union tying up the hands and legs of two night guards around 4:30am.
One of the night guards, Zaman, managed to flee and informed local people as the robbers were loading rice bags into a truck, he added.
Being informed, local people made an announcement over the loudspeaker of a mosque.
“Then the villagers rushed in and encircled the robbers. They also beat up them leaving eight dead on the spot. A resident in the area said, being chased, three robbers fell into a pond. They were pulled up from the pond and lynched there while five others were beaten to death near the bazar and a kindergarten.
Rice shop owner Abdul Gafur said he was informed around 5:30am about the incident.
He also said that a robbery had been committed to his maternal uncle’s shop, a mile away from the spot, few days ago.
ASP Jahirul Islam said the detainees confessed that they were ‘professional robbers’ and commit robbery in Mymensingh region.
Mob killings continue unabated in the country with more than 100 people getting killed every year. The offenders seldom face trial in a society that seems to be plagued by a culture of impunity, said rights activists.
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman expressed concerns over the death of the eight robbers in mob beating.
According to rights body Ain O Salish Kendra, 104 people were killed in mob beating between January and September in 2015. At least 127 were killed in 2014, at least 128 in 2013, and 126 in 2012.
People’s lack of respect for the law and their growing distrust in law enforcement agencies were also major reasons behind extra-judicial killings, the rights activists said.
