Five youths were beaten by locals in Jessore’s Baliadanga area after an announcement was made through mosque loudspeakers that robbers had entered the village. Police later detained the five and admitted them to Jessore General Hospital with injuries. Police said no evidence of robbery has been found so far.
The incident occurred around 11pm on Tuesday (September 29) in the Baliadanga BSCIC area and near Malopara in Jessore Sadar upazila.
The injured youths were identified as Russell, Nahid, Nirob, Sujon and Tanzim, all from Baisha Chandpur village in Jhikargachha upazila. Police detained them and took them to Jessore General Hospital for treatment.
According to police and local sources, a group of youths entered Baliadanga in a private car and several motorcycles. They were reportedly moving around and searching different places, which raised suspicion among local residents.
At one point, locals chased them from the Baliadanga BSCIC area. The group reportedly abandoned the private car at Mandartala and attempted to flee in different directions. Five youths were later caught in the Malopara area and beaten by locals. A motorcycle was also recovered from the scene.
Meanwhile, announcements through mosque loudspeakers about the alleged presence of robbers prompted residents of two nearby villages to come out onto the streets. The incident created panic in the area. Some locals claimed that a woman was also with the group, but she could not be detained.
Local sources said the five youths gave different explanations after being taken to hospital. One reportedly claimed they had gone to collect money owed by a recruiting agent, while another said they had gone to the area to pick up the wife of one of them. Another reportedly said he knew nothing about the matter.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Kabir Hossain said police initially suspected that the detained youths could be members of a robbery or snatching gang. However, no evidence of a robbery had been found. He said locals had handed the injured youths over to police after beating them and that the incident was under investigation.
