Mob kills suspected thief after woman stabbed to death

A woman was stabbed to death after she spotted an attempted theft, while the accused was later beaten to death after being snatched from police custody in Narayanganj’s Rupganj upazila yesterday.

The incident occurred in the afternoon at Kerabo intersection in Kanchan municipality, said Mehedi Islam, senior assistant superintendent of police (Circle ‘C’) in Narayanganj.

The woman was identified as Amena Begum, 45, wife of local grocery shop owner Babul Dewan.

The accused, Mehedi Islam, 32, of the Birabo Khalpar area in the same upazila, died after being beaten by locals, police said. He was a mason by profession

ASP Mehedi Islam said Mehedi had recently worked at Babul Dewan’s newly built house, which was completed just four days ago.

“On Friday around 3:00pm, Mehedi allegedly entered the house after finding it empty and attempted to steal a mobile phone. When Amena spotted him, he stabbed her in the neck,” the police official said.

Hearing her screams, locals rushed to the scene and caught Mehedi. Amena was taken to a local hospital, where she later died.

Shortly after news of her death spread, enraged relatives and locals assaulted Mehedi, who died on the spot, the police official added.

The two deaths occurred within a span of around 30 minutes, said the ASP.

Eyewitnesses said Mehedi was initially tied up at the house following allegations of theft and stabbing. When police arrived, he was handed over to them. However, after news of Amena’s death spread, enraged locals snatched him from police custody and beat him to death.

A video circulating on social media shows the mob dragging the accused from police officers as they tried to put him into a vehicle. He was then thrown onto the road and hit with bricks.

The ASP also said, “The incident occurred almost immediately after police reached the spot. We could not take him into custody before the mob attacked.”

Both bodies were sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsies. Police officials said legal action will be taken in connection with both killings.