Family Frustrated as Suspects Remain at Large in Brutal Mob Killing in Taraganj

The family of Ruplal Das, who was beaten to death in a mob attack in Taraganj upazila last week, says the perpetrators are clearly visible in video footage but remain free, raising questions about police inaction.

Bharati Rani, Ruplal’s widow, said on Friday that she does not even know how many individuals have officially been accused, as police came to her home to obtain her signature rather than asking her to visit the station. “The people in the video are the ones who killed my husband. They should be arrested, but no innocent person should be harassed,” she said.

Ruplal, a shoemaker from Ghonirampur village in Kursha union, and his relative Pradip Lal, a rickshaw-van puller from Mithapukur, were attacked by a mob at Bottola Burirhat in Soyar union around 9:00 pm last Saturday. Witnesses said the incident began over a minor dispute when some youths accused them of stealing small plastic bottles from Pradip Lal’s van, spreading rumors that inflamed the crowd.

According to witnesses, around 100 people gathered, and the victims were taken to a nearby field where they were brutally beaten. Police arrived but reportedly left the scene without intervening. Both men were rushed to a hospital; Ruplal died en route, while Pradip Lal passed away a few hours later.

Local sources estimate that 20–25 men from four nearby villages were directly involved in the attack, yet the police registered a case naming 700 people. Ruplal’s son, Joy Das, expressed frustration: “Those in the video should be arrested. They’ve detained four, but why aren’t the rest being caught? Will we get justice or not?”

Taraganj BNP unit general secretary Mehedi Hasan criticized the mass registration, saying only a handful of people were involved and that the wider case appears to serve other interests. Former Kursha Union member Golam Mostafa added that despite protests demanding justice, no one identified in the video has been arrested.

Taraganj police station officer-in-charge MA Faruq defended the police response, explaining that the identified suspects had fled the area and were difficult to locate. He said the case against 700 individuals was based on the plaintiff’s allegations and assured that no innocent person would be harassed.

The victims’ family recounted that the attack disrupted plans for a family wedding. Ruplal’s daughter Nupur’s marriage was being arranged, and Pradip Lal had set out to visit Ruplal the evening before the attack. The tragic incident has left the local community shaken and the family demanding swift justice.