Ruplal’s son takes up father’s profession to feed family

The family of Ruplal Das, who was killed in a mob lynching in Taraganj, is struggling to survive. Just 20 days after the incident, his 14-year-old son, Joy Das, a ninth-grade student, has taken up his father’s profession of shoe-making to support his family.

Joy, who now cares for his grandmother, mother, and two sisters, said on Friday (August 29) at the Taraganj shoe factory water tower, “I had to take up my father’s profession. We have become orphans because my father was killed on false charges. I wanted to study, but poverty has left me no choice. I want justice for those who made us orphans.”

Neighbours described Ruplal as an innocent cobbler who never got into conflicts. Setu Mia, a local shopkeeper, said, “Some miscreants beat him to death and left his family helpless. Now his son is sewing shoes instead of going to school—it is heartbreaking.”

Ruplal Das and his family were preparing for the marriage of his eldest daughter, Nupur Das. On the night of August 9, while returning from the village of Makimpur in Mithapukur with his niece and son-in-law Pradeep Lal, Ruplal was stopped by locals near Battala on the Taraganj-Kazirhat road, suspected of theft. A crowd gathered and attacked them. Both were rescued unconscious and taken to the Upazila Health Complex; Ruplal was declared dead, and Pradip Lal later died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Ruplal’s wife, Bharati Rani, filed a murder case at Taraganj Police Station on August 10 against 700 unidentified persons.

According to OC MA Faruk, six people have been arrested so far based on video evidence and local information, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.