Man lynched in Satkhira on allegation of hurting religious sentiment
Slain Wahiduzzaman Shamim. Collected photo.
A man in his late 30s was beaten to death in Debhata, Satkhira, over allegations of blasphemy.
After the first round of beating on Tuesday evening, he was admitted to the upazila hospital. There, he was attacked a second time.
Later at night, he was taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital under police guard. He died there while undergoing treatment, said Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge HM Shahin.
The slain, Wahiduzzaman Shamim (38), was the son of one Shamsul Rahman Sana of Subarnabad village at Debhata upazila.
Local people said that tension was created in the area after several audio clips of some of Shamim's comments spread. Some alleged that the audio contained comments that hurt religious sentiments.
When the matter went public, several local people went to his house on Monday night (October 12). At that time, Shamim tried to commit suicide by drinking poison, his family members said.
Later, his sibling brothers admitted him to Sabur Doctor's chamber in Kulia area.
Meanwhile, tension spread in the Parulia and Kulia areas over the matter on Tuesday evening. At one point, a group of agitated people went to Sabur Doctor's chamber and beat Shamim.
Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahin said Shamim was beaten by a mob over allegations of hurting religious sentiments. After receiving the news, police rescued him and took him to the upazila health complex.
Information was found among local people that Shamim was attacked a second time at the Debhata Upazila Health Complex.
As Shamim's physical condition deteriorated, he was taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital under police guard around 11 pm. Later, he died there while undergoing treatment.
Police officer Shahin said an investigation into the attack on Shamim is ongoing.
