Mobs beat 2 suspected robbers to death

Villagers beat two men to death after suspecting them of being robbers on Thursday night in Narayanganj and Jamalpur.

In Narayanganj, the victim, Md Billal alias Billal Dakat, 45, was accused in at least nine cases, including ones filed over murder and robbery, said Enayet Hossain, officer-in-charge of Araihazar police station.

A 25-year-old woman was also injured in the beating and is undergoing treatment at Araihazar Upazila Health Complex. She was accused of being an accomplice to the robbery gang.

The incident took place in Kahendi village of Highjadi union in Araihazar upazila around 10:30pm, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.

Quoting the locals, OC Enayet told this newspaper that villagers chased a gang of six to seven robbers who were reportedly preparing for a robbery.

"They caught Billal and beat him to death. They also beat a woman, who is now being treated under police custody."

However, the woman told reporters at the upazila health complex that she was a prostitute by profession and was with a client in the area at the time.

When the villagers started shouting, she got scared and tried to run away, she claimed.

A local witness said the woman jumped into a pond to save herself, but the villagers pulled her out of the waters and beat her.

"The woman is a member of the robbery gang. She helped them stop vehicles on the road for looting," said OC.

Billal's body was sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy. No case was filed in connection to the incident at the time of writing this report last night.

In Jamalpur, another suspected robber, Shejab Ali, 55, was killed in a mob beating.

The incident occurred in Jigatola village of Islampur upazila around 9:00pm, reports our Jamalpur correspondent.

On information, police conducted a drive in the area and arrested two suspected robbers along with a pistol and eight bullets, while the rest of their associates got away.

The arrestees are Ismail Hossain, 32, and Sorman Ali, 35, said Saifullah Saif, officer-in-charge of Islampur police station.

"As they were being taken to the police station, the arrestees informed police about a gang member who was critically injured in the mob beating."

Police then found Shejab Ali and took him to Islampur Upazila Health Complex. Later he was taken to Jamalpur General Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead on arrival.