A day after another Hindu man was lynched to death in Bangladesh's Rajbari district, Mohammad Yunus-led interim government on Friday said that the incident was not related to communal violence, alleging that the victim - Amrit Mondal alias Samrat - was "accused" in several serious criminal cases.
Bangladeshi government said that it has taken note of the spread of what it termed "misleading information" on social media regarding the tragic killing which took place in in the Pangsha Police Station area of Rajbari.
"According to police information and preliminary investigations, it is clearly evident that the incident is in no way related to communal violence," the government said in a statement.
Who was Amrit Mondal? According to the government, Mondal was a listed top criminal wanted in several criminal cases. The incident was triggered after Mondal entered the area with the intent of collecting extortion money.
"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 local residents," the statement read.
"It is noteworthy that Amrit Mondal alias Samrat was accused in multiple serious criminal cases, including murder and extortion cases filed in 2023, and arrest warrants had been issued against him in those cases," it added.
According to locals, Samrat had formed a criminal gang and had long been involved in extortion and other criminal activities. After remaining in hiding in India for a long time, he recently returned home and allegedly demanded extortion money from Shahidul Islam, a resident of the village.
How the event unfolded? According to the police investigation, Mondal and his associates entered the area with the intention of extorting money.
Mondal and members of his group went to Shahidul's house to collect the money. When the occupants raised an alarm shouting "robbers", locals rushed to the spot and beat Samrat.
His other associates managed to flee, while Selim was caught with weapons.
"Police arrested his associate, Selim, from the scene along with one foreign-made pistol and one pipe gun. Three cases have already been filed in connection with this incident, and law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation," the statement read.
Government urges restraintsMeanwhile, the interim government condemned the killing and said it does not support any form of unlawful action.
"The government strongly condemns this killing. The government wishes to state unequivocally that it does not support any form of extrajudicial activity, mob violence, or unlawful conduct under any circumstances. Legal action will be taken against all those directly or indirectly involved in the incident," it said.
The statement also expressed concern over attempts to project the incident as a communal attack.
"The government urges all concerned to act responsibly and refrain from spreading misleading, provocative, or communal statements," the statement said.
Reiterating its "commitment" to law and order, the interim government's statement read, "The government remains firmly committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice. Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony, and any attempt to undermine the nation's peace and stability will be dealt with firmly."
Last week, Hindu youth Das was lynched and his body set on fire in Mymensingh district after a mob accused him of blasphemy.
The interim government led by Mohammed Yunus condemned the incident.
"We wholeheartedly condemn lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared," a statement posted on X said.
The killings come amid ongoing unrest in the country and heightened concern over attacks on religious minorities and media institutions.