Another Hindu youth has died in Bangladesh, intensifying concerns over violence against religious minorities. Nineteen-year-old Joy Mohapatra died on Friday at a Hospital in Sylhet after allegedly ingesting poison following a dispute over unpaid mobile phone instalments in Derai upazila of Sunamganj.

Joy’s family alleged that he was beaten, humiliated and provoked by shopkeeper Amirul Islam of Burhanpur village over a delayed  500 taka instalment for a mobile phone bought on credit. His mother claimed the shopkeeper forced him to ingest poison, an allegation denied by the accused.

According to locals, Joy bought a mobile phone on instalments for 5,500 Bangladeshi Taka about three months ago, of which 2,500 remained unpaid, leading to a dispute.
Police said the incident is under investigation and no case has been filed yet.

The death is being reported as the eighth killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh in less than a month, amid rising attacks on minorities.