Youth beaten to death over suspicious mugging in Narayanganj

A young man was allegedly beaten to death by a mob after being accused of mugging in Fatullah of Narayanganj.

The victim, identified as Sijan, 25, son of Yunus alias Innu Mia, was reportedly taken from his home on Saturday evening (July 4) before being tied to an electric pole and assaulted in the West Masdair area.

According to the victim's family, members of a local social organisation named Al Falah, formed under the initiative of a mosque imam, took Sijan from his house around 8:00pm. His father, Innu Mia, alleged that the group tied him to a pole at Masdair intersection and severely beat him.

After he lost consciousness, Sijan was rushed to the 300-bed Khanpur Hospital in Narayanganj, where doctors declared him dead.

Local residents, on the other hand, claimed Sijan was a known mugger and leader of a local juvenile gang that had long terrorised the neighbourhood. According to them, Al Falah was formed by mosque worshippers to help curb rising crime in the area.

Residents said Sijan had been brought with the intention of handing him over to police, but an angry crowd allegedly attacked him before law enforcers could intervene.

Mosque Imam Kawsar said Sijan had faced multiple allegations, including mugging, and insisted that the plan was to hand him over to police rather than assault him.

"He was brought here to be turned over to law enforcement. Those who beat him were not members of our organisation. Public anger over repeated incidents of mugging and gang violence led to the attack," he said.

Mahbub Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Fatullah Model Police Station confirmed that Sijan's body had been recovered with visible injury marks.

"We are investigating the incident and legal action will be taken against those found responsible," the OC said.

The incident is under investigation.