No arrest, no case filed a day after mob kills 'pir' in Kushtia

Twenty-four hours have passed since 'pir' Shamim Reza Jahangir was killed in a mob attack in Philipnagar, Daulatpur upazila, Kushtia, but no case has been filed yet. Although the faces of many attackers are clearly visible in videos of the assault, police have made no arrests so far.

Speaking to the media at the scene on Sunday afternoon, April 12, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) of Kushtia Faisal Mahmud said, "We are currently trying to ensure a proper burial. The formal legal process will begin after that. However, a shadow investigation is already underway, and we have gathered significant evidence."

Law enforcement officials said a group of 70-80 people first attacked Shamim's Darbar Sharif, with 7-8 individuals inflicting blows on him. Later, several hundred students from a local madrasa arrived and carried out a second wave of attacks and vandalism.

Several followers of Shamim, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that while the attack was ostensibly over allegations of religious blasphemy, the attackers' other motive was looting. "They took away whatever valuables they could carry. The rest was set on fire. Shamim's golden crown, flute and anklets are also missing," they said.

After the autopsy at Kushtia General Hospital in the morning, resident physician Hossain Imam said, "Shamim suffered severe blows to his head, neck and back. His entire body was covered with injuries. He died from excessive bleeding."

Shamim's funeral was scheduled for Sunday. Although a decision was made to bury him at the local graveyard, his followers have demanded that he be buried within the Darbar premises. One follower said, "They declared him a non-Muslim and beat him to death. So why take him to the graveyard now?"

Additional Deputy Inspector General of Khulna Range Sheikh Zainuddin visited the scene around 11:00 am. He said, "Religious blasphemy is unacceptable under any circumstances. There are provisions in existing laws to take action against it. Instead of taking the law into their own hands, people could have informed law enforcement, who would have taken action. The murder that took place is also highly deplorable."

A law enforcement source has said the masterminds behind this planned murder have already been identified. The violence was incited by deliberately spreading videos from at least seven Facebook pages and accounts targeting a specific area.