Man killed for raising voice

Shuchi Modok's life fell apart just 27 days into her marriage as a few rowdy youths stabbed her husband to death on Saturday night for protesting stalking of girls at a temple in Bogra.

The victim, Sonaton Chandra Modok, 26, was the only son of Surath Chandra Modok of South Gandagram under Shajahanpur upazila. An expatriate in Singapore, he had come home to get married, relatives said.

The killing sparked protests in the Hindu community at South Gandagram yesterday. People marched in procession carrying the body and submitted a memorandum to the offices of the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police in the afternoon, local people said. 

Demonstrators demanded exemplary punishment to the killers and safety of the Hindus living in the area, they said.

Surath filed a case with Shajahanpur Police Station, accusing four identified and 8-10 unidentified youths. Police arrested two of the identified accused. A drive is on to arrest the other accused, police sources said.  

The arrestees are Razib Sarkar, 25, of North Gandagram, and labour Rafiul Islam Roni, 22, of South Gandagram of Shajahanpur upazila.

Some youths coming from North Gandagram were pestering girls around 11:00pm on Saturday at a Hindu temple at Adikalibari in South Gandagram, said Ratan Biswas, brother-in-law of the dead.

Ratan came forward to protest. When four to five youths began beating him up, Sonaton came to his rescue. 

Sonaton fell unconscious immediately after the stalkers stabbed him. The attackers then fled the scene.

Locals rushed him to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital in Bogra, where doctors declared him dead.

Having seen the dead body, 20-year-old Shuchi were passing out yesterday. 

Shapan Chandra Pramanik, Pronath Chandra Modok and victim's aunt Debi Rani said a group of youths had long been stalking girls at the temple whenever there was any festival or gathering and that they were feeling insecure in the area.

Local Hindus sought security from the local administration, they said. 

NC Baroi, president of Hindu, Buddha and Christian Oikya Parishad, Bogra district unit, said they demanded justice for the bereaved family and safety of local Hindus.

Deputy Commissioner of Bogra Ashraf Uddin said district and police administration would put all efforts to bring the killers to book and to ensure security of locals.