In a shocking incident that has sparked international outrage, a 15-year-old Hindu boy, Utsav Mondal, was brutally beaten by a mob inside a police station in the Sonadanga residential area of Khulna, Bangladesh, on the night of September 4. Mondal was accused of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad on social media, triggering widespread anger and violent responses from local Islamists.
According to initial reports, Mondal was detained by the police at the office of the Khulna Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner (South) after being brought in by students from Khulna’s Azam Khan Government Commerce College around 8 PM on September 4. As news of the alleged blasphemy spread, a massive mob of approximately 3,000 to 5,000 Islamists gathered outside the police station, demanding that Mondal be handed over to them. Despite assurances from police officials that a legal case would be filed against the boy and that justice would be served through legal means, the mob remained unsatisfied.
In a violent turn of events, the crowd stormed the police station, overpowering the police, army, and navy personnel present. Mondal, who was being held inside, was then severely assaulted by the enraged Islamist mob, leaving him critically injured. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as law enforcement struggled to control the escalating situation.
Initial local media reports claimed that Mondal had succumbed to his injuries. However, Khulna Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (South), Mohammad Tajul Islam, later confirmed to India Today that the teenager was still alive and receiving medical treatment.
A video has come. The video is just before the murder of Hindu youth Utsav Mondal in the Sonadanga Police Station of Khulna. Some Islamists entered the Police Station to negotiate. Some educated Muslim youths gave false promises to the police. They were saying, “Sir, please give him to us for 10 minutes. We assure you that he will be safe. We just want to give him a garland of shoes and we want him to apologise to us.”
A video has come. The video is just before the murder of Hindu youth Utsav Mondal in Sonadanga Police Station of #Khulna.
Some Islamists entered the Police Station to negotiate.
Some educated Muslim youths gave false promises to police.
They were saying, “Sir,… pic.twitter.com/aX16LlULSt
— Hindu Voice (@HinduVoice_in) September 5, 2024
However, a video of Mondal lying in the pool of blood with the attackers trying to insert their fingers in his eyes has also gone viral on social media platforms.
Journalist and researcher, Vijay Patel in his post on X wrote, “A Muslim boy, Tahmid Mohtada, started to make jokes about Hinduism on Facebook with words like Gaumutra, Gobar Pooja, etc. Minor Hindu boy Utsob Mondol reacted to this insult with comments on Profet Mohhamod. Muslim boy deleted his anti-Hindu Comments and took a screenshot of Utsob Mondol’s comments. He shared it on Social media, and radicals did the rest of their job by lynching this 17-year-old Hindu boy! The Muslim boy who started all this is free and enjoying it! “
Trigger Warning: Blood
Radical Muslims put their fingers in the eyes of a minor Hindu boy, Utsob Mondal, after lynching him.
How was it started?
A Muslim boy, Tahmid Mohtada, started to make jokes about Hinduism on Facebook with words like Gaumutra, Gobar Pooja, etc.
Minor… pic.twitter.com/qoWkgq37TQ
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) September 5, 2024
To disperse the mob, announcements were reportedly made from loudspeakers in nearby mosques, falsely stating that the boy had died. This led to the mob eventually dispersing. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate later clarified that Mondal had been rescued alive by the armed forces and admitted to a hospital. They urged the public not to believe in rumours circulating on social media about his death.
The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) condemned the attack, calling it a “violation of human norms.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the group stated, “A college student Utsav Mandal (a Hindu youth) was hacked to death at Khulna City of Bangladesh by Islamists… Without forensic evidence, he was detained by police and the mob lynched him in the police station where Army personnel was also present.” HRCBM accused Bangladeshi law enforcement of complicity, suggesting that authorities had failed to protect Mondal from the mob.
A college student Utsav Mandol (a #Hindu Youth) was hacked to death at #Khulna City of #Bangladesh by #Islamists. Allegations against him was he posted statement that is considered #blasphemy in social media. Without forensic evidence he was detained by police and the mob lunched… pic.twitter.com/6USMIEc35h
— Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (@hrcbm) September 5, 2024
The organisation further criticised Bangladeshi media outlets for allegedly downplaying the incident, asserting that “some shameless Bangladeshi media also spreading disgusting statements that this crime did not occur.” The group demanded justice and called on the international community to address the violent actions against minorities in Bangladesh.
Despite Mondal’s critical condition, legal action is still being pursued against him. The ISPR confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against him for “hurting religious sentiments,” and he will be handed over to the police once his health permits.
The incident has drawn international attention amidst repeated cases of violence against the minority community in Bengal. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised concerns about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Addressing the nation on India’s Independence Day, Modi expressed his hope for the normalisation of the situation in Bangladesh following the ouster of the Awami League government and the installation of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Modi has raised the issue twice in a week, highlighting India’s concern for the security of Bangladesh’s minority communities.
However, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus, downplayed the attacks on Hindus, describing them as “exaggerated” and attributing them to political fallout rather than communal tensions. He suggested that the violence was partially a result of perceptions that most Hindus supported the deposed Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina.
As the world watches closely, the incident raises broader concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh and the state of law and order in the country.
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