Woman dies, another injured after mob beating on theft suspicion

A woman died and another was injured after a mob beat them up on suspicion of stealing a gold chain from a queue of Covid-19 vaccine seekers in Nawabganj upazila under Dhaka district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Runa Begum (35), hailing from Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria.

Injured Popy Akter, also from Nasirnagar, was taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital for treatment.

Police arrested one Zahura Begum, whose gold chain was allegedly stolen, in this connection.

The incident occurred around 11:00am yesterday when the three women were waiting in the line for taking Covid-19 vaccine at the upazila health complex.

As there was jostling in the crowd, someone took Zahura's gold chain. She and her family members suspected Runa and Popy to be thieves and started beating them at the health complex premises, Sub-inspector Mrityunjay Kumar Chittaniya, of Nawabganj Police Station, said. 

The duo was later taken to the Boro Balmand village where Zahura's family members, joined by some villagers, again beat them up severely -- leaving Runa dead on the spot, he said.

On information, police rushed to the spot and sent Popy to Mitford Hospital.

Police filed a murder case in this regard. Law enforcers are trying to arrest others involved, said the SI.