Teen Killed in Fatikchhari Over Theft Allegations, Beaten with Sticks and Electric Cables

In a tragic incident in Fatikchhari, Chittagong, a teenager was killed, and two others were severely injured after being accused of theft and brutally beaten by a mob. The incident involved at least 40 people who used sticks, thick electric cables, and fists to assault the victims, according to confessions made by two arrested suspects in court.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Fatikchhari Police Station, Nur Ahmad, told Prothom Alo that the two suspects, Azad Hossain (36), a driver, and Mohammad Noman (37), a rural doctor, gave their statements before Chittagong Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Motasim Billah on Saturday afternoon. The police are continuing operations to apprehend other suspects involved in the case. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when three teenagers were returning home to Ward No. 5 of Kanchan Nagar Union in Fatikchhari from Chittagong city. As they neared their homes, they were accused of theft, tied to a bridge, and beaten by a group of individuals. One of the teenagers, Mohammad Rihan Mahin (15), died on the spot. His two friends, Mohammad Manik and Mohammad Rahat, sustained severe injuries and are undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Both have multiple broken bones, with Rahat admitted to the orthopedic ward and Manik in the casualty ward. They are in need of blood donations. The victim’s mother, Khadija Begum, filed a murder case at Fatikchhari Police Station, naming five individuals and seven others as unidentified suspects. Following the case, police arrested Azad and Noman. According to court sources, Azad Hossain stated in his confession that six days prior, some pigeons were stolen in the area, leading to suspicions against the three teenagers. On Thursday night around 3:30 AM, Azad, along with Fahad, Imon, Anwar, Munna, Shaon, and others, chased the teenagers, who fled to a nearby house’s rooftop. The mob apprehended them, tied them to a bridge, and beat them as a crowd gathered. Local residents, including Nazim Uddin, Sumon, Tanvir, and at least 40 others, joined in the assault, using sticks, electric cables, and fists. Mahin lost consciousness during the beating, and after water was splashed on his face, Noman confirmed his death. The mob then dispersed. In his statement, Mohammad Noman admitted to participating in the assault and confirmed Mahin’s death after checking his body. He also named other individuals involved in the attack. However, OC Nur Ahmad refuted the theft allegations, stating that no theft was reported in the area in the week prior to the incident. He suggested that the suspects fabricated the theft story to justify their actions, possibly due to a prior dispute. Khadija Begum, the victim’s mother and the case’s plaintiff, told Prothom Alo, “I rushed to the scene when I heard my son was being beaten. I kept saying he wasn’t a thief, but they beat him to death in front of me. He asked for water, but they wouldn’t even let him have that.”