Bangladeshi Youth Killed in Mob Attack in India, Family Seeks Return of Body

A Bangladeshi youth, Akram Hossain, was killed in a mob attack in India’s Meghalaya state on allegations of illegal border crossing. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in a forest in Kaitha Kona village, South West Khasi Hills district, near the Sunamganj’s Madhyanagar upazila border. Local villagers detained and beat Akram, and he was later declared dead by doctors at a local hospital.

As of Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Akram’s family has not yet received his body.

The deceased, Akram Hossain (30), was the son of the late Zahir Uddin from Bankakura village, Kangsha Union, Jhinaigati upazila, Sherpur district. According to Indian media and local sources, Akram, along with eight other Bangladeshis, illegally crossed the Tahirpur border in Sunamganj district into Rongdanggai village, South West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, on Saturday night. They were accused of attempting to kidnap a local resident and attacking households. Based on these allegations, locals detained and assaulted five of the group, who were later handed over to the Indian police. Two days later, on Monday, Akram Hossain was beaten by villagers. The detained individuals are Marufur Rahman (32) from Jamalpur, Jahangir Alam (25) from Jamalpur Sadar upazila, Sayem Hossain (30) from Narayanganj, Mehfuj Rahman (35) from Cumilla, and Mobarak Hossain (32) from Tahirpur upazila, Sunamganj. The Superintendent of Police for Khasi Hills, Banraplang Jirwa, told local media that a revolver, three wireless sets, a magazine, and identity documents were recovered from the detained Bangladeshis. Three of the injured were sent to court after receiving primary medical treatment, while two remain under treatment in a hospital. Akram’s elder brother, Sheikh Farid, said the family learned of his death through social media but is unaware of how he ended up in India. Local Union Parishad member Musa Mia stated that Akram had not been in the area for a long time. Akram’s relatives are in contact with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to repatriate his body. Subedar Abdul Latif from the Nokshi Border Outpost under Mymensingh Battalion-39 BGB said efforts are underway to communicate with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) regarding the matter. The Officer-in-Charge of Jhinaigati Police Station, Md. Al-Amin, told Kalbela that there is an arrest warrant against Akram in a kidnapping case filed at the station.