Who was Amrit Mondal? Another Hindu man lynched in Bangladesh days after Dipu Das’ killing

(File photo)

• Amrit Mondal, a Hindu man, was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari, Bangladesh.
• Mondal had criminal cases registered against him; incident not deemed communal violence.
• The killing follows recent violence against Dipu Chandra Das.

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Days after Dipu Chandra Das was brutally lynched and body burned in Bangladesh, another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district over allegations that he had gone to a villager’s home to demand extortion money.

The incident took place on Wednesday night at Hosendanga village in Pangsha upazila of Rajbari district. The victim was identified as Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, a resident of the same village, according to a report by Bangladesh-daily The Daily Star.

According to police and local accounts cited by The Daily Star, Mondal, along with members of his group, went to the house of Shahidul Islam, a village resident, and allegedly demanded extortion money. Shahidul and his family raised an alarm, prompting locals to rush to the spot.

While Mondal’s associates managed to flee, he was caught, reportedly with weapons in his possession. He was beaten by locals and later taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

What did the government say?

The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh condemned the killing but claimed there was not a communal angle to the violence.

"According to police information and preliminary investigations, it is clearly evident that the incident is in no way related to communal violence. Rather, it arose from a violent situation stemming from extortion and criminal activities. The deceased, Amrit Mondal, alias Samrat, was a listed top criminal who had entered the area with the intent of collecting extortion money. At one stage, he lost his life during a clash with agitated residents," the statement said.

The government further alleged that Mondal was "accused" in several serious criminal cases.

Who was Amrit Mondal?

Amrit Mondal was reportedly a resident of Hosendanga village in Rajbari's Pangsha area. Police claimed he was head of the so-called "Samrat Bahini", a group listed in police records, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

Mandal's group allegedly engaged in unlawful activities, including intimidation and systematic extortion.

According to the police, the 29-year-old had at least two cases filed against him, including a murder case, NDTV reported.

Bangladesh violence

The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents against minority communities in the country after the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year.

This incident comes a week after another Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and his body set on fire over blasphemy allegations in Mymensingh.

Police and other law enforcement agencies have made 12 arrests in the case so far.

Das' killing sparked widespread protests by factory workers, students and rights groups in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh, and India expressed its concerns as well. The interim government has said it would take care of his minor child, as well as his wife and parents.