Men flee Kotaibari after three of a family lynched by mob in Cumilla

The bustling village of Koroibari has fallen eerily silent after a mother and her children were beaten to death in Cumilla’s Muradnagar on charges of drug dealing.

Men in the area have closed their shops and left the area fearing arrest.

Although almost 36 hours have passed since the incident, no case has been filed until Friday. Police said no one has been arrested.

Meanwhile, after the autopsy, the three bodies were taken to Koroibari from Cumilla Medical College Hospital for burial in the evening.

Police said around 9am on Thursday, a group of people attacked a household in Koroibari village under Bangra Bazar Police Station of the Upazila, alleging their involvement in drug dealing and criminal activities.

The dead have been identified as Roksana Akhtar Rubi, 55, her son Rasel Mia, 28, and her daughter Jonaki Akhtar, 22.

Rubi’s daughter Rumi Akhtar, 30, was injured. She has been admitted to Comilla Medical College Hospital.

The family claims the incident began from a dispute over a stolen mobile phone, and that the attack had been planned on Wednesday and was carried out the day after.

Some local residents, however, said the family has long been involved in drug-related activities, and several members have pending drug cases against them.

Koroibari is a busy area with a bus stand, shops, and lies on the Muradnagar-Nabinagar road connecting Cumilla and Brahmanbaria. Rubi’s three-storey house sits adjacent to the road.

On Friday, the area around the house was quiet, with police stationed nearby. While locals had spoken to the media on Thursday, no one was willing to talk the next day.

Many, especially men, had reportedly left the area. Women said tension had prevailed in the locality since the incident. Many left closing their shops, fearing arrest.

A female tea vendor said, “There were many people in the area on Thursday when the incident happened. People are hiding because they are afraid of being arrested if a case is filed.

“Some of the men are not even staying at home. That’s why all the shops in the Koroibari market are closed.”

Police officers at the station said Rubi, listed as a drug dealer, has multiple cases filed against her and was previously arrested on drug charges.

She built a six-storey building named “Rubi Akhter Manzil” in Koroibari, where her son, two daughters, and son-in-law live.

However, Rasel’s wife, Meem Akhter, has denied such allegations. She said, “Our house was attacked and vandalised based on a mobile phone theft incident. On Wednesday night, a man named Bashir called my husband and threatened to kill the entire family.

“They planned this attack on Wednesday evening. I never imagined three people would be beaten to death like this.”

On the other hand, some locals said tensions escalated after a school teacher’s mobile phone was stolen, prompting a decision to question Rubi’s family on Thursday.

A “ruckus” was created, and at one point, villagers beat three family members to death.

Bangra Bazar Police Station chief Mahfuzur Rahman said, “Everything is under investigation. Taking the law into one’s own hands is not acceptable.

“Those responsible will be brought to justice soon.”

He added that the family members of the deceased have been spoken to. They will come to the police station and file a case.