'Pir' beaten to death in Kushtia: What happened there?

An angry mob hacked 'Pir' (spiritual leader) Abdur Rahman alias Shamim to death after attacking 'Shamim Baba's Darbar Sharif' in Daulatpur of Kushtia, on charges of insulting the Quran. The incident took place in the Darogar More area of ​​Philipnagar Union on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jasim Uddin said that a group of locals gathered around the afternoon to attack, vandalize and arson Shamim's darber, alleging insulting the Quran based on a video from three years ago. During this time, they attacked Shamim and two others with country-made weapons. Later, the injured were taken to the Daulatpur police station health complex in injured condition, where Shamim was declared dead.

Later, some videos of the attack and vandalism incident were circulated in the media and social media. It shows that several hundred people armed with sticks first attacked and vandalized the Darbar and set it on fire.

What happened there?

The deceased Shamim is the son of Shamsul Islam Master of the area. He claimed to be a Pir.

According to the police, an old video of Shamim from three years ago was circulated on social media. A group of people claimed that the video contained controversial comments about the holy book of Muslims, the Quran.

The deceased Shamim was also in jail for three months in 2021 on various charges, including hurting religious sentiments.

Based on this video, locals first surrounded the Darbar Sharif in the afternoon. At that time, Shamim and his two followers were inside the Darbar Sharif.

According to the police, the attack and vandalism took place there from 1:15 pm to about 2:45 pm. Later, three people were taken to the hospital with injuries, where Shamim was declared dead.

Several footages of the attack were shared on social media. It shows hundreds of people carrying sticks and sticks entering the courthouse in Philipnagar and attacking it.

Local youth, children and teenagers were also seen participating in the attack. At one point in the attack, they were even seen setting fire to the place.

Superintendent of Police Jasim Uddin said, 'The police immediately went to the scene. They also tried to stop it. The police rescued the injured and took them to the hospital.'

Police claimed that the condition of the alleged Pir Shamim was the most serious among the three. He was beaten and stabbed.

Upazila Health Complex doctor Md. Touhidul Hasan Tuhin said, 'The alleged Pir Shamim was brought to the hospital around 3 pm. He died around 3:20 pm.'

The doctor said that the deceased Shamim had injury marks on his body. He said, 'We think he was beaten and stabbed. The condition of the remaining two injured people admitted to the hospital is out of danger.'

Police said that despite Shamim's death, the excitement of the attackers did not subside at all. Hundreds of people were present in the Darbar area till 5 pm. Vandalism was being carried out there in the presence of the police. Later in the evening, the situation came under complete control.

Responding to the question of why the police failed to control the situation, Superintendent of Police Jasim Uddin said, 'There was a terrible anger among the attackers. The police had to hurry to bring hundreds of agitated people under control.'

Meanwhile, no case had been filed in this regard till 3am on Sunday. The Superintendent of Police said that if the family of the deceased wants to file a case, the police will take action.