Mob beating kills 2 in Ctg: What's been revealed

Highlights: 

• Satkania locals beat two suspected robbers to death
• Mosque announcement alerted locals to armed robbers' arrival
• Suspects fired randomly while fleeing, injuring 5

Two people killed in a mob beating and shooting incident on suspicion of being robbers in Satkania, Chattogram, have been identified. 

The deceased are Nezam Uddin, 46, and Abu Salek, 38, both residents of Kanchana Union in the upazila.

The incident, which occurred around 10pm on Monday (3 March) in the Chhankhola village of the upazila, also left four other local residents injured.

Ayub Ali, the publicity secretary of the Satkania unit Jamaat, claimed that the deceased, both Jamaat activists, were deliberately lured and murdered by the fascist Awami League terrorist, Manik Chairman (local chairman), and his associates. 

"We demand proper justice for this murder," he added.

Confirming the deaths, Officer-in-Charge of Satkania police station Zahidul Islam said, "Upon receiving reports of gunfire, we went to Chhankhola village and recovered the bodies of two individuals. We have confirmed that they died due to mob violence by the local villagers. 

"A pistol, six spent cartridges, and an auto-rickshaw were seized from the scene. However, it is still unclear why the victims were at the location," he added.

Police and local sources report that around 10pm on Monday, a group of youths arrived in four auto-rickshaws and began firing indiscriminately in the Chhankhola West Para area. A loudspeaker announcement from a nearby mosque warned of "robbers coming." The locals gathered and surrounded the armed youths, but the youths continued firing.

Police and locals believe that when the shooters ran out of ammunition, they attempted to head towards their parked vehicles. At this point, Nezam and his associates were attacked by villagers with sticks and local weapons. Two people were killed on the spot, and one of the bodies was found next to a pistol.

After the incident, Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam, Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer Milton Biswas, along with a team from the district Detective Branch and Satkania police, visited the scene.

SP Saiful Islam mentioned that the pistol recovered from the scene was foreign-made and speculated that it might have been looted from a police station on 5 August. 

"We are deeply concerned and are investigating the matter seriously," he said.

On Tuesday (4 March) afternoon, Kanchana Jamaat activist Nazrul Islam said the bodies of the deceased were being autopsied at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. 

"After the procedure, their bodies will be taken to Kanchana Anwarul Ulum Madrasa field for the Namaz-e-Janaza and then buried in the family graveyard," he added.

Several local residents from Chhankhola and Kanchana, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that during the Awami League rule, local chairman Manik held significant power in the area. However, after 5 August, when Manik left the area, Jamaat's Nezam Uddin took over. Nezam and his group reportedly looted Manik's properties.

When contacted for a comment on this matter, Shahjahan Chowdhury, the former Member of Parliament for Satkania-Lohagara and Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Chattogram city unit, was unavailable by phone.