Key suspect in Taslima killing held

The Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday arrested the prime suspect in the killing of Taslima Begum Renu by a mob on Saturday in Dhaka’s Uttar Badda.

The accused, Ibrahim Ridoy, 19, a vegetable vendor in Uttar Badda, was arrested at his aunt’s house in Narayanganj’s Bhulta upazila.

Ibrahim told police during primary interrogation that he was involved, claimed Nazmul Hasan Firoz, senior assistant commissioner of DMP (east).

According to Firoz, a woman went to Ibrahim’s store and claimed that Renu was a child kidnapper. A group of people then attacked the single mother, he said, quoting Ibrahim.

Police have so far arrested six people in this connection. Some of them after scrutinising amateur video that had gone viral.

Meanwhile, more incidents of mob attacks have been reported.

In Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila, the wife of a man allegedly framed him to be a child kidnapper to have him beaten up by a mob.

According to police, victim Shahidul Shikder, 35, narrowly escaped with injuries.

Shahidul’s wife Tania Akhter and her friend Priya yesterday grabbed him in Nayanpur area of the upazila and shouted “child kidnapper”, Aminul Islam, sub-inspector of Sreepur Police Station, said.

People then started beating up Shahidul.

The women were taken to police station for interrogation but later released as none filed any complaint, he added.

Another man in Jatrabari area of the capital narrowly escaped a mob attack on Monday after he was branded child kidnapper.

Chased by a mob, Khokhon Mia jumped into a waterbody after her landlady allegedly labelled him a child kidnapper.

A teacher of a nearby school helped him to hide from the mob, he said.

Khokhon claimed that he had not paid his rent in two months and the landlady was angry.

Police arrested landlady Hasna Begum alias Ayesha, 40.

Some neighbours of Khokhon said the mob chased him as he had “tortured Ayesha”.

Khokhon, however, denied the allegation.

To add to this, three people were rescued from mob beating in Cumilla Sadar upazila on Sunday.

Similarly in Kushtia, five faced beating since Sunday.

Police have arrested 30 people in connection with such incidents across the country.

‘NONE WILL BE SPARED’

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said those who were involved in mob beating would be brought to book.

“None will be spared,” he told a press conference at his office.

The minister said six people had been killed and 15 wounded in such incidents.

Eighty-one people have been arrested, nine cases filed and 15 general dairies (GD) registered in this regard, he said, reported BSS.

GOVT TO PROBE

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the government would investigate the incidents of mob beating and bring the people responsible to the trial.

“Any kind of beating, mob beating or personal beating, is an offence. The persons arrested in connection with such incidents will be tried under the existing laws,” he said.

The minister further said while talking to reporters after attending a meeting with the civil society members about United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) in a city hotel.