Why Was a Hindu Shop Owner Beaten to Death in Bangladesh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Liton Chandra Ghosh was killed while defending a young employee.
- The incident has raised concerns about violence against Hindu minorities.
- Police have arrested the assailants and are investigating the incident.
- This is part of a troubling trend of violence in the region.
- Community outrage has sparked demands for justice.
Dhaka, Jan 18 (NationPress) A Hindu shop owner was brutally beaten to death in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh while attempting to defend a teenage employee from an attack, as reported by local media citing police sources.
This tragic event has ignited outrage within the community, coinciding with increasing alarm over violence against Hindu minorities in the nation.
The deceased, identified as Liton Chandra Ghosh, aged 55, also known as Kali, ran a sweet shop named Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel on Baranagar Road, where this incident unfolded, according to the renowned Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star.
Ghosh was at his shop when a confrontation erupted on Saturday morning.
According to police and witnesses, the conflict began around 11 AM when a 28-year-old man, Masum Mia, entered the sweet shop and engaged in a verbal dispute with a 17-year-old employee, Ananta Das, over a trivial matter.
This disagreement rapidly escalated into a physical clash, as reported by various media outlets.
Shortly after the brawl started, Masum Mia's parents, Mohammad Swapan Mia, 55, and Majeda Khatun, 45, arrived and allegedly joined the attack.
The situation worsened as the three began to assault those present in the shop.
Liton Ghosh intervened to protect Ananta Das and de-escalate the situation. Tragically, he became a target himself during the scuffle.
Reports indicate that he was struck on the head with a shovel, suffering fatal injuries and dying at the scene.
Local residents quickly responded to the attack, apprehending Masum Mia alongside his parents, Swapan Mia and Majeda Khatun, before handing them over to the police.
Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Zakir Hossain confirmed the incident to The Daily Star and noted that the three suspects are now in custody.
He added that legal actions are underway concerning the murder, and further investigations are ongoing to uncover all details related to the case.
The murder of Liton Ghosh has incited considerable anger among the local populace, particularly as it follows closely after the murder of another Hindu man in Bangladesh.
On Friday, Ripon Saha, an employee at a fuel station, was run over by a car while attempting to prevent the vehicle from leaving the petrol station without paying for fuel.
The car allegedly fled the scene after the incident.
Both events have escalated concerns, with the latest murder perceived as part of a larger trend of violence against Hindu minorities in the country.