Two men were killed in a mob beating over allegations of stealing an auto-rickshaw in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur early Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Rezaul, also known as Kana, 42, of Nohali union; and Sadikul Islam, 32, of Kolkanda union.
Md Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Gangachara Model Police Station, said police recovered the bodies from the scene.
Quoting local residents, he said that the incident took place around 5:30am near the Teesta Large Irrigation Canal at Uttar Panapukur of Barabil, reports UNB.
Siddiqur Rahman Sohel, a resident of Bagpur Dakkhinpara in Barabil, heard a noise coming from the shed where he kept his auto-rickshaw early in the morning. When he came out of his bedroom, he saw someone taking the vehicle away, the OC said.
At the time, worshippers were offering Fajr prayers at a nearby mosque. Hearing Sohel’s cries, several worshippers came out and chased the suspected thieves.
When they failed to catch the men immediately, locals were alerted through the mosque’s loudspeaker, prompting more people to join the chase.
The two men allegedly abandoned the vehicle about half a kilometre from Sohel’s house, near the irrigation canal, and tried to escape through a paddy field.
Locals surrounded them and beat them, leaving both dead on the spot.
OC Sabur said police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. They conducted the inquest and then took the bodies to the police station.
The bodies were later sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for autopsies, he said, adding that legal action was being taken over the incident.
