Alleged blasphemy: Hindu worker hanged from tree and burned to death by Thowhidi militants

District Correspondent

A Hindu worker was hanged, beaten and set on fire in public in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh, allegedly for insulting religion, and was allegedly incited by Towhidi militants. They were shaking the area with slogans of ‘Naraye Takbir, Allah Akbar’.

Locals said that the extremist mob openly carried out this incident, fueled by leaders and activists of various militant organizations including Jamaat-Shibir, Hizbul Tahrir, Hefazat, Charmonai.

The tragic incident took place in front of the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in the Dubaliapara area of ​​the upazila at around 9 pm on Thursday.

Following this incident, there is a feeling of insecurity among people of different faiths, including the Hindu community, across the country.

The deceased worker, Dipu Chandra Das (30), was working in the factory. He hailed from Tarakanda Upazila of Mymensingh. He was the son of Ravi Chandra Das.

It is learned that after the alleged accusations of insults and provocations, tension spread in the factory area, and at one stage, the authorities, thinking of the factory security, threw Dipu out. As soon as he came out, the extremist militants attacked him. During this time, they severely beat Dipu. Later, the militants took his body to the side of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, tied it to a tree and set it on fire.

Traffic on both sides of the highway was stopped and panic spread throughout the area. The brutal killings by the militants were shared on social media, Facebook, and also led to threats against the minority community.

Local witnesses and human rights activists said that the blasphemy rumors were completely fabricated and motivated. They said that openly Jamaat and religious fanatics participated in this brutal murder. However, no effective role was seen from the law enforcement agencies during the incident. This incident has created panic among people of different religions and beliefs.

Human rights activists say this is not an isolated incident. The brutal incident is part of a series of violence targeting minorities and working class people using religious rumors as a tool.

According to them, such killings will increase if the culprits are protected due to their political and religious identities. Rather, they allege that various religious and political parties, including Jamaat, are instigating this incident.

Meanwhile, although additional police were deployed in the area after the incident, those involved in the murder have not yet been arrested.

The victim’s family called the murder a planned one and demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved.

Cultural activists have once again raised the question of how long the festival of taking the law into one’s own hands in the name of religious rumors will continue in this country? And the administration will remain a silent spectator? Sudhijan has condemned the religious barbarity during the Yunus government.