Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has said that no clear evidence of blasphemy has so far emerged in the lynching of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh, even as it alleged that a factory floor manager handed him over to an enraged mob, instead of alerting police. The victim, 28 year old Dipu Chandra Das was a worker at the Pioneer Knitwears BD Ltd in Bhaluka upazila. He was beaten to death by a mob on Thursday night in Jamirdiya over alleged blasphemy. His body was later tied to a tree and set on fire, triggering widespread outrage.

 

At a press briefing yesterday, RAB-14 Director Naimul Hassan said 10 people have been arrested in connection with the killing, including factory floor manager Alamgir Hossain and quality manager Miraz Hossain Akon. According to the RAB, Alamgir forced Dipu to resign and then handed him over to the crowd. Naimul Hassan said that they are investigating why he was handed over to the mob instead of the police and whether there was any prior enmity. He added that investigators have not found any clear proof supporting the blasphemy allegation.

 

Dipu’s family accused factory officials of pushing him to his death. His sister, Champa Das, said he was educated, had a sound understanding of religion and had recently been involved in disputes with management over production demands. 

 

A murder case has been filed by Dipu’s brother against unidentified suspects. RAB said it would continue a parallel investigation alongside police into the brutal lynching.