News Brief
Hindu Youth Utsab Mandal, Who Was Brutally Beaten By Islamist Mob Over Blasphemy In Bangladesh, Is Alive, Says Army
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Utsab Mandal, a Hindu student in Khulna, Bangladesh, who was brutally assaulted by a mob following blasphemy accusations, is alive, according to a statement from the Bangladeshi Directorate of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
He is currently receiving medical care at a hospital under Bangladesh Army supervision and is reportedly out of danger.
Reports have surfaced that announcements were made from local mosque loudspeakers claiming that Mandal had died, in an effort to quell the enraged crowd.
Following these announcements, the mob eventually dispersed.
The ISPR’s statement came after several Bangladeshi media outlets reported that Mandal had been killed by the mob after snatching him from police and army custody.
The ISPR clarified that armed forces rescued Mandal and rushed him to the hospital.
Further, the Bangladesh Army also urged the public to disregard false rumours circulating on social media about his death.
"Once he recovers, he will be handed over to law enforcement following due legal procedures," the Army said in the statement.
The local police has booked him in a blasphemy case for "offensive" Facebook post on Prophet Muhammad.
Referring to the attempt to lynch him by an Islamist mob, the statement said that the Bangladesh Army remains committed to preventing extrajudicial killings and upholding the rule of law.
On the evening of 4th September, students from Azam Khan Government Commerce College took Utsab Mandal to the office of the Khulna Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner (South), accusing him of insulting Prophet Muhammad.
Deputy Police Commissioner Tazul tried to pacify the crowd, assuring them that action would be taken against Mandal and that he would face justice through the legal means.
However, the mob was not satisfied and proceeded to assault Mandal, critically injuring him.
Although army and navy personnel were deployed to manage the situation, the crowd managed to storm the DCP office and attacked Mandal, who was in police custody at the time.
Following the brutal assault, Mandal was assumed dead as he was lying on the ground appearing lifeless.
According to local reports, the police used Mosque loudspeakers to announce his supposed death in an effort to disperse the mob and restore calm.
This led to initial reports from Bangladeshi media that Mandal was lynched by the mob. However, when it was revealed that the youth was alive, the reports were removed from the news websites.
Later, the armed forces rescued him and rushed him to the hospital.
The ISPR has since confirmed that he is no longer in danger.
However, the Hindu student will still face legal action as he has been booked over the alleged blasphemous social media post.
"Law enforcement is in the process of filing a case against him for hurting religious sentiments. Once he recovers, he will be handed over to law enforcement following due legal procedures," the ISPR said.
