A Hindu teenage boy, Utsab Mandal, was brutally assaulted by a mob inside a police station in Khulna, Bangladesh, last week over an alleged blasphemy charge. He has now been booked under the contentious Cyber Security Act on the allegations of hurting religious sentiments. The case against the 15-year-old boy, who is undergoing treatment for injuries in the attack, was filed on 5th September at Khulna Sadar Police Station by a 42-year-old man identified as Nasir Uddin of Sher-e-Bangla Road.
While the case was recorded on 5 September night, it was revealed only on 7 September. Notably, the boy will be tried as a 19-year-old in the matter. The officer-in-charge of the police station, Kamal Hossain Khan, claimed in a statement that the boy’s actual age is higher than what is listed on his birth certificate and other documents, suggesting a conspiracy.
OC Kamal Hossain Khan said that after preliminary verification, the complaint has been registered under the Cyber Security Act. He has been accused of hurting religious sentiments and destroying communal harmony and deteriorating the law and order situation. He has been charged under sections 27, 28 and 31 of the Cyber Security Act. As Mandal is currently in hospital under army protection, he will be handed over to the police after he is discharged from the hospital.
Complainant Nasir Uddin told the media that the honour of Prophet Muhammad is more valuable than his life in the heart of every Muslim.
Notably, on 3rd September during the Bangladesh-Pakistan cricket match, Utsav was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad on a Facebook Live session. The student of Class XI of Azam Khan Government Commerce College allegedly abused the Holy Prophet Muhammad in vulgar language. He is also accused of making similar comments as comments under his post on Live.
The next day on 4th September, around 8 PM, students of Khulna’s Azam Khan Government Commerce College dragged Utsab Mandal to the office of the deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (South), Tajul Islam, after he allegedly made a social media post insulting Prophet Muhammed. The post reportedly angered locals, who dragged him to the police station, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments. Meanwhile, word spread about the incident, and a large mob gathered at the spot, demanding that the Hindu boy be handed over to them. The mob of 3,000-5,000 people surrounded the office, calling for instant justice.
Deputy Police Commissioner Tazul Islam reportedly tried to intervene after the mob started assaulting the boy in his office but failed. Eventually, the army intervened and dispersed the crowd. It has been reported that to satisfy the bloodthirsty mob, police had to declare the boy dead. Announcements were made from loudspeakers of nearby mosques stating that the Hindu youth had died, after which the mob retreated.
The incident occurred in the presence of police, Army, and Navy personnel. Later, the Directorate of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the country issued a statement saying that Utsab Mandal is being treated at a hospital under army supervision and is out of danger.
The ISPR issued the statement after several media houses reported that the college student was killed by the mob after being snatched from the police and the army. The directorate said that Mandal was rescued alive by the efforts of the armed forces and then admitted to the hospital. The army urged people not to believe in rumours circulating on social media claiming that the youth was dead.
The statement issued by ISPR further mentioned that after Utsab Mandal is released from the hospital, he will be handed over to law enforcement agencies as he is booked in a blasphemy case. Referring to the attempt to lynch him by an Islamist mob, the statement said that the Bangladesh army is always committed to preventing extrajudicial killings and upholding the rule of law.
Contrary to the statement made by the government authorities, Hindus are being attacked in Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post on 5th August. It has been over a month and Hindus have been assaulted, raped and killed. Their houses, shops, temples and establishments have destroyed and burnt to ashes. OpIndia’s complete coverage of atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus can be checked here.
