Staff Reporter :
A 15-year-old boy was killed and two others severely injured after being tied up and brutally beaten on suspicion of theft in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram early Friday.
The deceased was identified as Md Rihan Mohin, son of grocery shop owner Muhammad Lokman of Sagor Ali Talukdar Bari in Kanchannagar union.
According to locals, Rihan and his two friends-Muhammad Manik and Muhammad Rahat-were returning from a relative’s house when they were suddenly attacked. Around 3am, as the teenagers approached their homes near Chaingar Bridge in ward no. 5, a group of 7-8 young men, allegedly lying in wait, accused them of being thieves and chased them.
The three boys took shelter in an under-construction building, but were dragged out, tied with ropes, and mercilessly beaten on the bridge. Rihan died on the spot, while Manik and Rahat sustained critical injuries and were later rescued by locals and taken to hospital.
Police and residents said Rihan used to assist his father at the family grocery store and had gone to Chattogram city the previous day with his friends.
Confirming the incident, Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nur Ahmed said,
“Initial evidence suggests this may not have been a mob beating over theft. The attackers were from the same village, so previous enmity or disputes could be the real motive.”
He added that two young men have been detained for questioning, while Rihan’s body has been sent to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police have urged the victim’s family to file a case and launched drives to arrest the main perpetrators.
