Fisherman beaten to death in Satkhira over alleged fish theft
Photo: Agamir Somoy
When Suleka Mondal received news that her husband was being beaten, she rushed to the scene. There, she found her husband, Kshitish Chandra Mondal, lying seriously injured. He had marks of injuries on various parts of his body. He had been struck on the head with a sharp weapon and his arms and legs were broken.
Kshitish was still able to speak at the time. He told his wife who had beaten him. With help from neighbors, Suleka rescued her husband and took him to the hospital. She hoped that treatment might save his life. But in the end, he could not be saved.
Kshitish Chandra Mondal (55), was allegedly beaten by a group of people over accusations of fish theft at the Jeala Uttarkhola Beel in Tala upazila of Satkhira early Friday. He was the son of the late Manindra Mondal of Jeala village in the upazila. Fish enclosure owner Biswanath Ghosh and his associates have been accused of killing him.
According to local sources, Kshitish Mondal was detained around 3:00 am on Friday over allegations that he had stolen fish from Biswanath Ghosh’s fish enclosure in the Jeala Uttarkhola government beel. It is alleged that the enclosure owner and his employees then beat him.
During the assault, Kshitish was struck on the head with a sharp weapon. There are also allegations that his arms and legs were broken after he was beaten with iron rods and hammers.
After hearing that her husband was being beaten, Suleka Mondal rushed to the scene. Finding him seriously injured, she rescued him with help from neighbors. Kshitish was admitted to Tala Upazila Health Complex at around 8:00 am. However, all efforts to save him failed within hours of his arrival at the hospital. He died while undergoing treatment at around noon.
Kshitish’s wife, Suleka Mondal, said, “After hearing that my husband was being beaten, I went to the beel and rescued him. He was still able to speak then. He told me the names of several people involved in the assault. Later, I admitted him to the hospital with help from neighbors. He died while undergoing treatment.”
Demanding justice for her husband’s killing, Suleka said she was preparing to file a case against those involved.
Local residents Partha Mondal and Prakash Mondal, along with several others, said Kshitish had serious injury marks on different parts of his body when he was rescued. They claimed that his arms and legs were broken and that his head had multiple wounds caused by sharp weapons.
Dr. Sirajul Islam, the physician in charge at Tala Upazila Health Complex, said Kshitish Mondal was admitted to the hospital in critical condition at around 8:00 am on Friday. As his condition was serious, arrangements were underway to transfer him to Satkhira Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. He died before the transfer could take place.
Tala Police Station Officer in Charge (OC) Md. Mohsin Ali said police visited the scene after receiving the news. Arrangements are being made to prepare an inquest report and send the body to the morgue for an autopsy. Legal action will be taken if a written complaint is received.
