700 sued over lynching of 2 people in Rangpur

A case was filed accusing 700 unnamed individuals in connection with the lynching of two people on theft charges in Taraganj Upazila of Rangpur district last night (10 August).

Bharati Rani, wife of victim Ruplal, filed the case with Taraganj Police Station today (11 August), said officer-in-charge MA Faruk.

Protesting the deaths, locals blocked the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway yesterday evening. They left the highway upon the local administration's assurance over ensuring justice.

On Saturday night, Ruplal Das, 40, of Ghanirampur and his son-in-law, Pradeep Das (husband of his niece), 35, were killed in a lynch-mob attack on charges of stealing a van in Burihat Bottala under Taraganj Upazila.

Quoting family members, police said Ruplal, along with Pradeep, went to Ghanirampur village to see a prospective groom for his daughter on Saturday night by a van.

When they reached Bottala on the Taraganj-Kazirhat road, locals confronted them as suspected van lifters.

In a bizarre coincidence, two local van pullers named Alamgir Hossain of Pasharipara village and Mehedi Hasan of Burirhat fell sick and got unconscious, deepening suspicion among local people as they believed the van was stolen after the owner was made unconscious through toxic elements.

Later, local people beat them up mercilessly, leaving both injured.

They were first taken to Taraganj Upazila Health Complex, where the doctors declared Ruplal dead at around 12am.

Pradeep was taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early Sunday.