Probe Body Formed to Investigate Rangpur Mob Lynching

Rangpur, August 14, 2025 – A three-member probe committee has been established to investigate the tragic deaths of two men in a mob attack in Taraganj Upazila, Rangpur district, on August 9, 2025. The victims, suspected of theft, were fatally beaten by a mob.

Rangpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Abu Saim announced that the probe panel, led by C-Circle Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Asifa Afroz Adhri, was formed on Wednesday night. The committee has been tasked with submitting a detailed report within three working days. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Taraganj Police Station, MA Faruk, and another police official will assist ASP Asifa Afroz in the investigation. In a related development, eight police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were suspended on Wednesday night for alleged negligence during the incident. The suspended officers, attached to the district police lines, include Sub-Inspectors Abu Zobayer and Shafiqul Islam, and Constables Farikud Akhtar Zaman, Dhiraj Kumar Roy, Hasan Ali, Firoz Kabir, Moktar Hossain, and Babul Chandra Roy. Additionally, SI Abu Zobayer, the initial investigating officer (IO) for the case, has been relieved of his duties, with Inspector (Investigation) Rafiqul Islam appointed as the new IO. The incident occurred around 9:30 PM on August 9, 2025, on the Taraganj-Kazirhat road in the Bottola area. The victims, Ruplal Das, 40, and his nephew-in-law, Pradip Das, 35, were attacked by a mob suspecting them of theft. According to locals, Ruplal’s daughter, Nupur Das, was engaged to Dipjol Das from Shyampur in Mithapukur Upazila. Pradip, traveling by rickshaw van from Mithapukur to finalize the marriage date, became confused about the route and contacted Ruplal, who joined him. The two were heading toward Ghanirampur village when they were detained by villagers around 9:00 PM. The situation escalated after locals discovered four plastic bottles in the van, one of which emitted a strong odor, causing two individuals, Alamgir Hossain and Mehedi Hasan, to fall ill. This led to the mob brutally attacking Ruplal and Pradip, resulting in their deaths. Two cases have been filed in connection with the incident, and four individuals have been arrested. Fearing further arrests, many male residents of nearby villages have reportedly gone into hiding.