Two men were beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of stealing a battery-run auto-rickshaw in Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila early yesterday, police said.
The deceased were identified as Ejarul Haque, alias Rezaul Kana, 46, of Kachua Sardarpara village, and Sadikul Islam, 25, of Kolkond union.
The incident occurred in the Pukur Khurir Dola canal area of Bagpur Bagherhat village under Barabil union.
Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Gangachara Model Police Station, said the bodies would be sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for autopsies to determine the exact cause of death.
“According to preliminary information from local residents, the two men died after being beaten by a mob following the alleged theft of an auto-rickshaw,” the OC said.
According to police and local residents, Sohel Mia, a resident of Bagpur Bagherhat village, noticed an auto-rickshaw being taken from his house early yesterday and raised the alarm. An announcement was then made over a nearby mosque’s loudspeaker warning residents about the suspected theft.
Responding to the announcement, locals, including those who gathered for Fajr prayers, chased the two men as they fled with the vehicle.
The pair later abandoned the auto-rickshaw on the road and attempted to escape. However, locals caught them in a paddy field at Pukur Khurir Dola in the Uttar Panapukur area, about half a kilometre west of Sohel Mia’s house.
They were subsequently beaten, killing them on the spot, witnesses said.