A leader of the Sramik Dal has been killed in a mob beating over an alleged mobile theft in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila.
The police have detained four individuals in connection with the incident, confirmed Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lakshmipur Sadar Model police station, Abdul Monnaf.
The body of the deceased was recovered from Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital on Monday, he said.
After an autopsy, the body was handed over to the family, the OC added.
The deceased, Mohammad Raju, 35, was the office secretary of the Sramik Dal's 9th ward in Char Ruhita union.
Of the four detained individuals, the police have named two: Kabir Hossain, son of Harun from the Sabujer Gozha area, and Rekha Begum, wife of Nijam Uddin from the same area, confirmed OC Abdul Monnaf.
According to the police and local sources, Raju was beaten by a mob in front of Kajal Company’s brick kiln in the Sabujer Gozha area on Sunday.
Allegedly, he had entered Kabir Hossain’s house to steal a mobile phone, they said.
When locals found out, they beat him, they added.
He was later rescued in a critical condition and taken to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Raju’s family claims that this was a premeditated murder.
Raju’s mother Nehar Begum, brother Ohid Hossain, sister Jesmin Begum, and daughter Ruby Akter have lodged a complaint with the police, saying that when Raju's mobile phone ran out of charge at night, he went to his nephew Kabir’s house to charge it.
At that time, Kabir's associates called people together and brutally beat Raju to death, the complaint said.
Raju’s body showed signs of being hit with a spear and bricks, which led to his death, it added.
The general secretary of the Char Ruhita union Labour Party, Jahangir Hossain, said: "Raju was in no way involved in theft. This could have been a planned murder."
OC Abdul Monnaf said that Raju was beaten to death under the false accusation of theft.
"Preparations for a case are underway. Kabir and Rekha will be named in the case, and the other two detained individuals are being interrogated," the OC added.
