Teenager Mahin beaten to death in presence of his father in Fatikchhari

A 15-year-old schoolboy Md. Mahin was beaten to death in presence of his father after a group falsely accused him of theft.

Victim's father Md. Lokman told local journalists: "My son was brutally murdered on false allegations. They said Mahin had taken money. I said, if he had, I would return the money. Still, they did not let him go. They killed my son in front of me. I want justice from the administration."

Mahin's aunt Sukhi Begum, wailing at the time, said that Mahin had asked to drink water before his death, but he was denied.

Two other teenagers who were with Mahin havr also beem beaten in this brutal incident and were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.

Locals claim that no theft took place that day, Mahin was killed in a premeditated manner following some previous incidents. They said that Mahin and his friends were known as the members of local teenage gang.

On Thursday night (August 21), Mahin was returning home from Chattogram city with his two friends Rahat and Manik. When they reached the Changer Bridge area in Kanchannagar Union of Fatikchhari Upazila at 3am, a group of seven-eight persons who had been waiting in ambush chased them.

At one stage, the mob attacked the boys accusing them of being thieves. Being chased, the three friends took refuge in a nearby under-construction building to save their lives.

The attackers caught them, tied them to the railing of Changer Bridge with ropes and beat them up brutally throughout the night. Being informed, Mahin's father Muhammad Lokman rushed to the spot to save his son, but he was also beaten. At one stage of the beating, Mahin died on the spot in front of his father.

Meanwhile, the owner of the house where the theft allegedly took place, Mubarak, told reporters that no theft had taken place in his house. He said that when he woke up hearing the screaming, he saw that some locals were taking the three teenagers away.

Mahin's father Md. Lokman said: "The attackers falsely accused Mahin of stealing money. Even though I offered to return the money, they did not let Mahin go. Instead, they tortured me too."

Abdul Quader Chowdhury, a member of the Kanchannagar Union Parishad, described the murder as illegal and inhumane incident.

Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nur Ahmed said: "We have recovered the body and sent it to the morgue for autopsy. The boy was beaten to death after being branded a thief. The family has informed that they will file a case."

He also said that two youths--Md. Noman and Azad--suspected of being involved in the incident, have been detained for questioning and a drive is underway to arrest the main attackers. The two injured teenagers, Rahat and Manik, and Mahin's father have been admitted to the hospital.