Lalmonirhat mob attack: He couldn't have hurt religious sentiment, say victim's family

The family of Abu Younus Muhammad Shahidunnabi Jewel, who was beaten and burnt to death by a mob on Thursday night in Lalmonirhat's Burimari union parishad premises, have been left in a state of shock as they wait for police to hand over the body after a DNA match.

His family members came to know of the incident on Thursday night when photographs of the incident went viral on social media. One of their relatives called them after seeing the footage.

Locals had said Jewel, 50, had hurt religious sentiments, which led to the attack.

Read more: Mob beats man to death in Lalmonirhat for 'hurting religious sentiment' 

His family members however could not believe that Jewel could do such a thing as he was a pious person and used to offer prayers five times a day.

"He was so pious that it was impossible for him to do such a thing. I want a fair trial for those who conspired to kill him," said Mukta Begum, Jewel's wife, at her residence in Shalban of Rangpur city.

Family members said Jewel -- a father of two -- had suffered mental trauma after losing his job and used to take medicines prescribed by a doctor.

A former student of library and information science at Dhaka University, Jewel had gone out on Thursday morning on his motorcycle. His companion Sultan Zubair, who was injured in the incident and now undergoing treatment at Lalmonirhat Zila School, was his childhood friend from Rangpur Zila school, family sources said.

Jewel's sister Lipi Begum said she talked with his brother after he left the house on Thursday morning and he told her that he was in Rangpur city. He did not mention anything about going to Lalmonirhat.

Asaduzzaman Hasu, Jewel's brother-in-law, said his body was brought to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for autopsy and DNA test and Jewel's brother went there to provide DNA samples to confirm the deceased's identity.

Rubel, Jewel's friend from Rangpur Zila school said, "Jewel was very talented. We passed SSC from Rangpur Zila School together in 1986. Sultan Jubayer was also a friend of ours," he said.

Jewel had been suffering from a mental condition since losing his job, Rubel added. Rubel and some of his other friends, who gathered at Jewel's Shalbon house, said they were planning to take Jewel for better treatment.

Friends and acquaintances of Jewel yesterday held a protest rally at Payra Chattar Rangpur demanding justice for Jewel.