'We're orphans now,' says Nupur as father killed in Rangpur lynching on eve of setting her wedding date
Ruplal, the sole breadwinner for his six-member family, worked as a cobbler in Taraganj bazar.
What was meant to be a day of joy turned into one of unbearable grief for the family of 40-year-old Ruplal Das from Ghonirampur village in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila.
Today, the family was supposed to fix the wedding date of his daughter Nupur (18). Instead, the day was overshadowed by mourning after Ruplal was beaten to death on Saturday night (9 August) on suspicion of theft.
Standing silently in front of her home, Nupur's tear-filled eyes reflected her shock and despair. "We have become orphans… they have left us with nothing," she said in a trembling voice.
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Ruplal left home to meet his son-in-law [husband of his niece] Pradeep Das (35), who was travelling from Mithapukur to Taraganj by van on the occasion of setting the wedding date. But, the two did not return home.
However, according to news agency UNB, Ruplal, along with Pradeep, went to Ghonirampur village to see a prospective groom for his daughter on Saturday night by a van.
As they reached the Burirhat Bottola area of Sayer union, locals suspected them of stealing a van and subjected them to a brutal beating.
Bharati Das, Ruplal's wife, was inconsolable. "Why was my innocent husband killed? Why was such injustice done to us? Who will give us justice now? How will we survive?" she cried.
Ruplal, the sole breadwinner for his six-member family, worked as a cobbler in Taraganj bazar.
"I am not a thief or a robber. I am a cobbler; I repair shoes at Taraganj bazar," in a video Ruplal can be heard.
The video of the fatal attack has since circulated on social media, showing locals stopping the two men with a van and questioning them about a plastic sack found on the vehicle.
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.
Both men lost consciousness during the assault. Police later rescued them and took them to hospital.
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.
Meanwhile, Ruplal's wife filed a murder case at Taraganj Police Station on Sunday against 500–700 unidentified people.
"We have recovered some evidence and are verifying them. The investigation is underway," said the police station's Officer-in-Charge MA Faruq.
