Case filed, two arrested over mob lynching of three in Cumilla’s Muradnagar

Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the mob lynching of three members of a family in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla, who were accused by locals of drug dealing.

The arrests follow a case being filed last night (4 July) by one of the victim's daughters, Rikta Akter, with Bangrabazar Police Station. The case names 38 individuals, including local Union Parishad Chairman Shimul Billah, and accuses 25 other unidentified people.

Officer-in-Charge Mahfuzur Rahman of Bangrabazar Police Station confirmed the case and said two arrests have been made.

According to police, a team from the Bangladesh Army, led by Captain Adil Shahriar, conducted a joint operation in the Akubpur area at 3:30am on Saturday (5 July) and detained the suspects. They were later handed over to the police.

The arrestees were identified as Md Sabir Ahmed, 48, and Md Nazimuddin Babul, 56.

The incident took place on Thursday morning (3 July) around 9am in Koroi Bari village of Muradnagar. Three members of the same family, Roksana Begum Ruby, 53, her daughter Tasfia Akhter Jonaki, 29, and son Md Russel Mia, 35, were beaten to death by a mob.

Another family member, Ruma Akhter, 28, was also injured and is currently receiving treatment in Dhaka.

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to the family after autopsy on Friday afternoon (4 July). Police said that upon return to the area, no one came forward to assist with digging graves or organising funeral prayers. The three were later buried with police assistance.

Police said the attack stemmed from longstanding community tensions. Locals alleged the family had been involved in drugs and petty crime. 

Police records show five family members had been named in a total of 43 cases, including 30 against the three deceased.