Two more arrested in Dipu Das killing, total 12

Police have arrested two more suspects in connection with the brutal killing of Dipu Chandra Das, 28, in Mymensingh's Bhaluka, pushing the total number of arrests to 12 following joint operations by police and RAB.

In a statement issued by the District Detective Branch (DB) on Sunday afternoon (December 21), police said Ashiqur Rahman, 25, and Qayyum, 25, were arrested Saturday night from the Kashar area of Hobirbari Union. Ten others had been detained earlier in the same case.

District Court Inspector Pirzada Sheikh Md Mostasinur Rahman said police have sought five-day remand for three of the arrested suspects, with the hearing scheduled at the BhalukaAmli Court on Monday.

The incident took place on the night of December 18 at Pioneer Knitwears BD Ltd factory in the Jamirdia area, where Dipu was beaten by an enraged mob over allegations of blasphemy and later set on fire, leading to his death. The following day, December 19, his younger brother Apu Chandra Das filed a case at Bhaluka Police Station against unnamed individuals.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Abdullah Al Mamun stressed that no one has the right to take the law into their own hands. “Even if someone commits an offence, mob justice is unacceptable. Why the victim was not handed over to police is under investigation,” he said, adding that operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, Dipu’s father Robi Chandra Das and sister Champa Das alleged the killing was premeditated, claiming false accusations were raised following a dispute over production targets at the factory. They said Dipu was educated and religiously conscious, rejecting the allegations outright.

Dipu Chandra Das hailed from Mokamia Kanda village in Tarakandaupazila of Mymensingh and had been working at the factory for the past two years.