Who is Liton Chandra Das? Hindu shop owner beaten to death with shovel in Bangladesh over customer dispute

Hindu shop owner beaten to death with shovel in Bangladesh over customer dispute

A Hindu trader, Liton Chandra Das, was beaten to death by a mob in Kaliganj, Bangladesh, after stepping in to defend an employee during a dispute at his shop, police said. Das, 55, owned Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel, and became the target when a small argument between a customer and his employee escalated into a violent altercation.

The incident occurred on Saturday morning, when Das tried to protect his employee, Ananta Das, from an aggressive customer. A group of other customers reportedly joined the assault, fatally injuring him. Police have begun investigating the attack and are reviewing CCTV footage from the area. The killing has sparked outrage in the local community, with calls for strict action against the perpetrators.

According to local sources, Liton Chandra Das was first punched and kicked by an angry mob before being struck with a shovel. He sustained severe injuries and died on the spot before locals could intervene. Police arrived at the scene, brought the situation under control, and detained three individuals in connection with the killing. Das’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

Authorities also arrested 55-year-old Abul Hashem, alias Sujan, a former treasurer of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Rajbari district, along with his 43-year-old driver, Kamal Hossain, in relation to the incident.

The attacks come shortly after 30-year-old Ripon Saha, a fuel station worker, was crushed to death while attempting to stop a vehicle from fleeing a petrol pump without paying. The incident occurred at the Karim Filling Station, where a black SUV allegedly refueled and tried to escape. Saha blocked the vehicle and was run over, according to a PTI report.