Bangladesh arrests key accused in lynching of Hindu factory worker Dipu Das amid rising attacks on minorities
PTC Web Desk: The Bangladesh police have arrested a former mosque teacher, identified as Yasin Arafat, who is believed to be the prime accused in the brutal lynching of Hindu garment factory worker Dipu Das in Mymensingh district. The arrest comes weeks after the killing triggered widespread outrage and renewed global concern over violence against religious minorities in the country.
Officials said Arafat, a local resident, played a central role in instigating and directing the mob attack that led to the death of 27-year-old Dipu Das on December 18. According to the police investigation, Das was forced to resign from his job at a garment factory following blasphemy allegations, after which factory supervisors allegedly pushed him out and handed him over to an angry group of Islamists.
The mob reportedly assaulted Das mercilessly, dragged him to a nearby intersection, hung him from a tree and later set his body on fire. The police claim that several of his co-workers also joined the attack. After the killing, Arafat allegedly fled the area and went into hiding before being tracked down and arrested on Thursday.
Investigators say Arafat used his influence within the local community to rapidly mobilise a large crowd, turning the situation into a deadly assault. Authorities allege that he not only incited the mob but actively participated in the violence, personally dragging Das to the spot where he was killed.
Arafat’s past role as a mosque teacher is now under scrutiny, with officials examining whether his influence extended beyond this incident and whether he was involved in spreading extremist ideas. With his arrest, the total number of people detained in the case has risen to 21. Investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow.
Notably, the killing of Dipu Das was followed by a series of violent incidents targeting members of the Hindu community across Bangladesh, further deepening concerns about minority safety. In Rajbari district, Amrit Mondal was beaten to death by villagers, while Bajendra Biswas was shot dead in Mymensingh.
In another incident, Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu businessman, was stabbed and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur on New Year’s Eve and later died during treatment in Dhaka. On Monday, Rana Pratap, a newspaper editor and businessman, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jessore district.
In Naogaon, a 25-year-old Hindu man died after drowning in a pond while trying to escape locals who were chasing him on suspicion of theft.
- With inputs from agencies
