Lalmonirhat mob killing: Mosque committee could’ve settled issues with Jewel, says OC

The mosque committee could have quelled the mob fury, settling the issues that led to the death of Shahidunnabi Jewel, who was lynched in Lalmonirhat over the rumour of demeaning the Holy Quran, said Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sumon Kumar Mohanta.

"It could have sent both the victims (Jewel and his companion Sultan RubaiyatSumon) back after settling the issues. But instead, they wasted time keeping the victims at the UP office, giving the people the chance to gather. They failed to tackle the situation,"the OC said while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.

Read more: Mob beats man to death in Lalmonirhat for 'hurting religious sentiment'

"Police fired 17 rounds of rubber bullets. Some people were hit but they did not calm down… and the situation went out of control," OC Sumon said, describing police action during the incident.

"The agitated mob threw stones. I was also hit by stones," he said. "At one point, I was scared to death, but still I had to do something, so I gathered the courage to stay at the scene," he said.

OC Sumon said, "When the UNO, Upazila Chairman, UP Chairman and other members left the building to save their own lives, I went to the room where the victims were kept.By that time, people started entering the UP building breaking grills (of windows) and walls, shouting'kill him!kill him!'."

"When I entered the room, one of them was on the floor and the mob was beating him indiscriminately,"the OC said.

"I took the man who was standing and left the room. I was also attacked from behind, but I quickly climbed up to the second floor of the building. I managed to make it to the roof of an adjacent market and saved the man,"the OC said.

"I was hit by stones and sticks, but I was able to save one life. It is my only consolation,"the OC said, adding, "But the tragedy remains,I could not save the life of the other person."

When Jewel and Sultan Rubaiyat Sumon were beaten and taken to the Burimari Union Parishad office on October 29 after an argument at the mosque, OC Sumon immediately rushed to the spot with the forces.

"I got the news on that day at 5:01pm. Immediately,I sent eight forces from Burimari Zero Point. I reached the spot with ten more forces," he said.

"I have 64 forces at my police station. But 32 of them are always engaged with duties like protection of the MP,or are on leave. There is also a vehicle crisis," the OC said.

"We were not prepared to prevent such incidents. We went to the spot after hearing about the incident…So, we had no gas gun or other preparations," said the OC.

Three separate cases have been lodged with Patgram Police Station for beating and burning Jewel (50) to death.

So far, 24 accused have been arrested in the incident. Twelve of them are accused in the murder case and 12 are accused in two other cases.