Amrit Mondal, a “listed criminal” with a murder record, was beaten to death by villagers in Pangsha after an alleged extortion attempt at a local home.
December 26, 2025: A man identified as Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, was lynched by a mob in Hosendanga village of Rajbari’s Pangsha upazila late Wednesday night, December 24, 2025. The incident has sparked a diplomatic and social media firestorm, occurring just days after the brutal lynching of another Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh.
The Incident: An Extortion Bid Gone Wrong
According to the Pangsha Model Police, the violence erupted around 11:00 PM on Wednesday.
- The Allegation: Mondal, accompanied by his associates, allegedly entered the home of local resident Shahidul Islam to demand extortion money. When the family found Mondal instead of the owner, they raised an alarm, shouting “robbers” to alert the neighborhood.
- Mob Response: Enraged villagers surrounded the house. While Mondal’s associates managed to flee, Mondal was caught and severely beaten by the crowd.
- Police Intervention: Assistant Superintendent of Police (Pangsha Circle) Debrata Sarkar stated that police rescued Mondal in critical condition. He was transported to the Pangsha Upazila Health Complex, where he was declared dead at approximately 2:00 AM on Thursday.
Who was Amrit Mondal (Samrat)?
Police records and local reports paint a picture of a man with a deep criminal history rather than a targeted civilian.
- “Samrat Bahini”: Authorities allege Mondal led a local terror outfit named the “Samrat Bahini,” which specialized in intimidation and forced “donations” from villagers.
- Criminal Record: He was a listed criminal with at least two major cases pending at Pangsha Police Station, including a 2023 murder case and a separate extortion charge. An arrest warrant was reportedly active against him at the time of his death.
- Return from India: Officials noted that Mondal had recently returned to Bangladesh after spending a significant period in hiding in India to evade local law enforcement.
Arrests and Recoveries
Following the lynching, police conducted a sweep of the area:
- Associate Detained: Mohammad Selim, identified as an associate of Mondal, was arrested at the scene.
- Firearms Seized: Two firearms—a foreign-made pistol and a one-shooter pipe gun—were recovered from Selim’s possession.
- Legal Action: Three separate cases have been filed in connection with the extortion attempt and the subsequent mob violence.
Government Response: Countering “Communal Propaganda”
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government issued an official statement on Thursday night to address the religious identity of the victim being highlighted on social media.
“The incident is in no way related to communal violence. It arose from a violent situation stemming from criminal activities. The deceased was a top-tier criminal… a vested group is attempting to portray this as a communal attack to disrupt social harmony.”
The government emphasized its “zero-tolerance” policy toward extrajudicial killings but maintained that the motive was strictly criminal, not religious.
Tense Backdrop: The Dipu Chandra Das Precedent
The Rajbari lynching has gained international attention because it follows the December 18 killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker in Mymensingh who was falsely accused of blasphemy and set on fire. That incident led to India summoning the Bangladesh High Commissioner and sparked massive protests in New Delhi and Kolkata.