Man beaten to death on suspicion of theft in Meherpur

An unidentified man, 35, was beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of theft in Meherpur's Gangni Upazila on Tuesday morning (June 2).

The incident occurred around 6am at Bamundi Bazar. Witnesses said the victim remained lying injured and bleeding for hours, but instead of assisting him, many bystanders recorded videos on their mobile phones.

According to local residents and police, a five-member group allegedly arrived in a pickup van before dawn and attempted to steal tyres from a shop in the market after breaking its lock.

The incident was noticed by the market's night guard and local traders, who chased the suspects. While other members of the group reportedly escaped in the pickup van, one man was caught by locals.

He was subsequently beaten by an angry crowd and later died from his injuries.

A local businessman, who requested anonymity, said the man remained at the scene for a long time after the assault.

"Despite being seriously injured and bleeding, no one came forward to rescue him. Instead, people were recording videos on their phones. He was thirsty, but nobody even offered him water," the businessman said.

He described the situation as both tragic and disturbing, adding that many people present appeared unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Police from Gangni Police Station recovered the body from the scene around 10am and took it into custody. Authorities are attempting to identify the deceased.

Another witness, tea stall owner Samim Hossain, said the man was still alive as late as 9am following the assault.

"Had he been taken to a hospital in time, his life might have been saved," he said.

Confirming the incident, Uttam Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Gangni Police Station, said an unidentified man had died after being beaten on suspicion of theft.

"The body has been recovered and is being sent to Meherpur General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Preparations are underway to file a case in connection with the incident," he said.

Police said efforts are continuing to identify the victim and determine the circumstances surrounding the mob attack.