Bangladesh mob attacks Hindu rickshaw puller over alleged India links
Authorities in Bangladesh are investigating claims of possible links between Hindu rickshaw puller Gobinda Biswas and India's intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), following a mob assault in Jhenaidah district. Police have said the allegations are under verification, even as the incident has heightened concerns over attacks on minorities and prompted India to urge Dhaka to ensure justice in recent cases of violence.
New Delhi: Amid heightened concerns over the safety of Indians and minorities, yet another disturbing incident has been reported from Bangladesh. A Hindu rickshaw puller was allegedly beaten by a violent mob over suspicions of links to India. According to reports, the incident took place on Friday in the Jhenaidah district of the Khulna Division. Police identified the victim as Gobinda Biswas.
The violence reportedly erupted after members of the crowd noticed a red thread on Biswas’s wrist, a symbol commonly worn by Hindus. Eyewitnesses said rumours began circulating about his alleged links to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Following these claims, the mob attacked him.
Did Biswas have any possible links to RAW?
Biswas was assaulted before being handed over to the police and sustained serious injuries to his throat and chest.
Videos circulating on social media show Biswas pleading with police as he was taken into custody, repeatedly stating that he was a rickshaw puller and requesting to be released. He was later detained at the Jhenaidah Sadar police station.
In a separate video recorded inside the police station, an unidentified voice claims that Biswas’s mobile phone showed multiple WhatsApp transactions allegedly linked to the Reserve Bank of India and that he had received a call from someone in India. During questioning, Biswas reportedly said the person was named Akash and that he knew him personally.
The officer-in-charge of Jhenaidah Sadar police station confirmed Biswas’s detention and said preliminary inquiries revealed that he had lived in India for several years. The official added that police were examining allegations regarding possible links to Indian agencies.
MEA urges Dhaka to bring Dipu Chandra Das’s killers to justice
The incident comes amid heightened concern over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh following the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, which sparked protests and reports of vandalism in several areas. Earlier, India conveyed "strong concerns” to Bangladeshi authorities over recent attacks on minorities.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had urged Dhaka to ensure that those responsible for the killing of Dipu Chandra Das are brought to justice.