New accounts from locals and family have added more twists to the lynching of the Bangladeshi man Dipu Chandra Das. The 27-year-old man was beaten to death and had his body set on fire in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, by a mob.
The video of the lynching went viral on social media, triggering outrage.
Initial claims suggested that Dipu was lynched over alleged remarks insulting religion.
However, police investigation and accounts from family, locals, and workplace colleagues point to a workplace dispute as the cause behind the killing, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
According to accounts from the man’s family, tensions had escalated inside the garment factory, Pioneer Knitwears (BD) Limited, where he worked.
Dipu had recently appeared in a recruitment examination for promotion from floor manager to supervisor.
His brother, Apu Das, who spoke to the Shaka tribune, said that Dipu had several disputes with colleagues over his position.
On the afternoon of the incident, he was dismissed from his job, and shortly afterwards, he was accused of insulting religious sentiments.
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“They beat my brother and threw him out of the factory,” Apu was quoted as saying.
“Even after he was caught and apologised, they did not spare him.”
Apu said that Dipu’s friend Himel later called him to say that he was taken to the police station for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
“A short while later, he called again and said my brother was dead,” Apu said.
Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Abdullah Al Mamun, who spoke to the news outlet, said that allegations of blasphemy are currently based on word of mouth. “We have not found any truth to the claims so far,” he said.
Multiple police officers who investigated the case said that there was no evidence that the man made religiously offensive comments.
Mymensingh RAB Company Commander Md Shamsuzzaman also said that no one on scene could confirm that Dipu made any religiously offensive remark.
They also could not find anything offensive posted online on his accounts.
Local Ward No. 5 member Tofazzel Hossain said that the killing was not a spontaneous act of religious outrage. “I have heard Dipu had long-standing disputes over production targets, overtime, working conditions, and workers’ benefits,” the Dhaka Tribune quoted him as saying. “A conspiracy gradually formed to remove him from the factory,” he added.
According to Tofazzel, Dipu was beaten about a kilometre from the factory, after which his body was tied to a tree and set on fire. “Those involved must face exemplary punishment,” he said.
So far, 12 people have been arrested in connection with the killing. The suspects are being interrogated, and further operations are underway to arrest others involved.
Dipu’s brother filed a complaint against 150 unnamed people.