A shocking wave of violence rocked West Bengal on May 28, as Humayun Kabir, a 35-year-old unemployed engineer, allegedly murdered his parents in Memari, East Burdwan district, before travelling to Bongaon near the India-Bangladesh border, where he stabbed and injured four teachers and staff members at a madrasa.
The series of attacks, reportedly driven by Kabir’s radicalised ideology, culminated in his arrest and sparked a violent mob reaction at the Bongaon police station, leaving two officers injured and leading to further arrests.
The tragic events in Memari
The horrific chain of events began in Memari, where Kabir is believed to have killed his parents, Musfatizur Rahman and Mumtaj Parveen, in their family home.
According to police reports, the murders stemmed from ideological differences, as Kabir’s parents disagreed with his extremist views and had been attempting to reform him.
Investigators revealed that Kabir, who had been unemployed for five months after losing his job at a multinational corporation in Noida, had been heavily influenced by jihadi literature, which reportedly fueled his radicalisation.
Kabir, who was divorced last year, had been living with his parents in Memari since losing his job. Authorities suspect that the ideological rift between Kabir and his parents escalated to a breaking point, resulting in the tragic killings. The weapon used in the murders, a knife, was reportedly purchased from an e-commerce platform, highlighting the ease of access to such tools.
Attack on Madrasa in Bongaon
Following the murders in Memari, Kabir travelled approximately 100 kilometres to Bongaon, a town in the North 24 Parganas district, located just six kilometres from the India-Bangladesh border. There, he targeted a madrasa near Eidgah Maidan in Motiganj.
According to police, Kabir approached teachers and staff at the madrasa, engaging them in a discussion about Islam and jihad.
When the staff refused to entertain his questions, Kabir became enraged and launched a violent attack, stabbing four individuals. The victims, identified as Jafar Ali Mondal (46), Meheruddin Mondal (60), Sofiar Mondal (70), and Hasanur Molla (26), sustained severe injuries to their heads, faces, hands, backs, and shoulders.
All four were rushed to Bongaon Jiban Ratan Dhar Sub-Divisional Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Hospital authorities reported that their condition is critical but stable.
The attack has left the close-knit Bongaon community in a state of shock.
Police suspect that Kabir may have been attempting to flee to Bangladesh, given Bongaon’s proximity to the border, though the motive for targeting the madrasa remains under investigation.
Mob Violence and Arrests
Kabir was apprehended by police shortly after the attack in Bongaon. However, his arrest triggered further unrest as a mob gathered outside the Bongaon police station, demanding that the accused be handed over to them.
The situation escalated into violence, with the mob attacking police personnel. North 24 Parganas Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar reported that two officers were injured during the riot. In response, authorities arrested 10 individuals for rioting and assaulting police officers.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
On May 29, Kabir was produced before a Bongaon court, which remanded him to three days of police custody. Special Public Prosecutor Samir Das argued that additional time was needed to investigate Kabir’s “extremist links” and to uncover any potential networks or influences that may have contributed to his radicalisation.
The police are also examining Kabir’s online activities, given his reported exposure to jihadi literature, to determine the extent of his radicalization and whether he acted alone or had accomplices.
The incidents in Memari and Bongaon have raised alarm about the spread of radical ideologies and their potential to incite violence.
The police are also probing whether Kabir had any connections to extremist groups or individuals, either online or offline, that may have influenced his behaviour.
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