GUWAHATI: A 15-year-old Hindu boy was reportedly beaten and hacked to death by a mob in Khulna City, Bangladesh.
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The boy was accused of making objectionable comments about Prophet Muhammad on social media, sparking violent outrage among local Islamist groups, as per reports.
According to a statement by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) on X (formerly Twitter), Utsav, a college student, was initially detained by police without forensic evidence of the alleged blasphemy. However, before any formal investigation could take place, a mob stormed the police station, dragging the boy inside. Despite the presence of police, Army, and Navy personnel, the mob—reportedly comprising over 3,000 people—brutally lynched Utsav.
Local reports suggest that the violence was instigated by students from a nearby madrasa, who incited a mob after Utsav allegedly made comments defending his faith.
As per reports, following Utsav’s death, the crowd reportedly celebrated outside the station and online, with local mosques even announcing the boy's death over loudspeakers. The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the region, raising concerns over religious intolerance and the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh.
In response to the incident, Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, downplayed India's concerns regarding violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. He remarked that attacks on minorities have been "exaggerated".
