Mob beats man to death on theft suspicion in Magura

A man was beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of cattle theft in Magura Sadar yesterday. The victim, Akidul Islam, 45, a resident of Kanchanpur village, was allegedly detained by locals 4:00am in Maland village and beaten, police said.

On information, police rushed to the scene, rescued Akidul, and took him to Magura Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead, said Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Magura Sadar Police Station.

Contacted, Sumaiya Afrin, a doctor at the hospital's emergency unit, said the man was already dead when he was brought in around 9:00am. "There were multiple injuries on different parts of his body. His head had been shaved, and his legs were severely injured with visible bleeding."

The victim's wife, Ajifa Khatun, said Akidul had returned from Cyprus five months ago and had been working at a vegetable wholesale market in Dhaka.

"He was returning home by bus at night. After getting off at Ichakhada Bazar in the morning, he called and told our son to go and receive him. A few moments later, another call came from his phone, and a man told us that my husband had been caught on suspicion of stealing cattle. The caller demanded money for my husband's release.

"We tried contacting people to help but could not resolve the issue. We informed police around 8:00am, and they rescued him around an hour later and took him to the hospital."

Akidul's son Saimon said those who killed his father had prior financial disputes with him.

OC Ashiqur said, "The body is at the hospital for autopsy. We are investigating the incident."

No case had been filed as of the filing of this report at 9:00pm yesterday.