Police have arrested four individuals in connection with the fatal mob beating of two men in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur.

The arrests were made following a case filed on Sunday afternoon at Taraganj Police Station by Bharati Rani, the widow of Rupolal Das—one of the victims. Investigators reviewed CCTV and video footage before identifying and apprehending the suspects.

The arrestees have been named as Ebadot Hossain, 27, of Balapur village in Sayar Union; Aktarul Islam, 45, of Burirhat; Rafiqul Islam, 33; and Mizanur Rahman, 22, of Rahimapur. The case also lists 700 unidentified individuals as accused.

Officer-in-Charge of Taraganj Police Station, MA Faruk, stated that the arrests were based on digital forensic evidence, video analysis, and local intelligence. “Our operations are ongoing to track down others involved in the incident. No one connected to the crime will be spared,” he added.

According to the case statement, the incident occurred around 8:30pm on Saturday. Rupolal Das, 40, was returning home from Charan Baluya in Mithapukur upazila in a van, accompanied by his nephew’s husband, Pradip Lal, 35.

At the Bot Tola area of Burirhat in Sayar Union, several locals intercepted the van and began questioning the two men. They searched a black bag carried by Pradip and found a bottle containing an unknown beverage along with some medication.

Upon opening the bottle, a foul smell reportedly made several people feel unwell, sparking outrage among the locals. The two men were then taken to the playground of Burirhat High School and subjected to a brutal beating by the mob.

Both victims sustained critical injuries. They were rushed to Taraganj Upazila Health Complex, where Rupolal was declared dead. Pradip later succumbed to his injuries at Rangpur Medical College Hospital in the early hours of Sunday.