8 ‘robbers’ beaten dead in Narayanganj

--Robbers storm into market

--Locals capture, beat them up

--8 die on the spot

--4 injured bandits rushed to hospital

A mob beat eight suspected robbers to death and injured four others in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj early today.

Four of the eight dead were identified as Rubel, 52, Jewel alias Titu, 30, and Shawkat, 30, of Mymensingh and Ghatak Roni, 30, of Feni. The names of the four other victims could not be known immediately.

The four injured are Sabbir, 25, Shafiq Mia, 26, Manik, 30, and Lokman, 26.

Assistant Superintendent of Police in Narayanganj Md Zahirul Islam said a gang of robbers went to Purindabazar market with a truck around 4:30am.

They tied hands and legs of two night guards -- Zaman and Motaleb – of the market and started loading rice on the truck from a shop.

When the robbers were busy loading rice, Zaman managed to free himself and informed locals, the ASP said.

People rushed to the scene after someone made an announcement of the robbery through a mosque loudspeaker.

The agitated people caught 12 of them and gave a good thrashing, leaving seven people including Rubel, Jewel and Shawkat dead and five others injured.

Four of the injured were rushed to Araihazar Upazila Health Complex where Roni died later.

As their condition deteriorated, the three injured persons were shifted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Sub-Inspector Jahid Hasan, duty officer of the police station, said.

Another injured person is in police custody, he also said.

The bodies will be sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy, he added. 

They are professional robbers from Mymensingh, the ASP said.

Police seized the truck half loaded with rice, he added.