An unidentified suspected mugger, aged around 35, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Monday afternoon after being beaten by a crowd during an alleged snatching incident in Jatrabari, the capital.
The incident occurred at around 3pm at Jatrabari Chowrashta. According to the pedestrians who rescued the man and brought him to the hospital, the suspect had snatched an earring from a woman near the intersection. As he attempted to flee, a crowd caught him and beat him severely, leaving him critically injured.
A group of passersby subsequently rescued the man and rushed him to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment later in the afternoon.
Jatrabari Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Rafiqul Islam said that the police went to the hospital upon receiving reports of the lynching and found the man’s body, which bore multiple injury marks.
“His identity is yet to be established, but he is suspected to be a drug addict,” SI Rafiqul said, adding that no one was found accompanying the deceased at the hospital.
The sub-inspector further noted that the police are investigating whether any snatching incident had actually taken place. However, it was reported that the suspect had been beaten up and left near the public toilet at Jatrabari Chowrashta. A detailed investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, pedestrians Israfil and Sabuj Howlader, who helped rescue the injured man, said they initially found him lying on the street and took him to Mitford Hospital before transferring him to DMCH.
SI Rafiqul also confirmed that pedestrians Israfil, 25, and Sabuj Howlader, 30 — the latter an Ansar member posted in Bhola — have been taken into police custody from the hospital for interrogation.
