Eight police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, have been suspended for alleged negligence during the fatal mob beating of two Hindu men in Rangpur’s Taraganj upazila on 9 August.

Rangpur Superintendent of Police Abu Saim confirmed the suspensions on Wednesday night, stating that the officers were part of the mobile police team deployed in Taraganj at the time of the incident.

The suspended officers include Sub-Inspectors Abu Zobayer and Shafiqul Islam, and constables Farikud Akhtar Zaman, Dhiraj Kumar Roy, Hasan Ali, Firoz Kabir, Moktar Hossain, and Babul Chandra Roy—all from Taraganj Police Station.

SP Saim added that SI Abu Zobayer, who was previously the investigating officer (IO) of the case, has also been removed from the investigation. Inspector (Investigation) Rafiqul Islam has been appointed as the new IO.

The victims, Ruplal Das and his son-in-law Pradip Das, were attacked around 9:30pm on the Taraganj-Kazirhat road in Bottola by villagers who suspected them of theft.

Local sources said Pradip Das, a resident of Mithapukur’s Shyampur area, was travelling by van to discuss final arrangements for his marriage to Ruplal’s eldest daughter, Nupur Das. After losing his way, Pradip called Ruplal for assistance. Ruplal joined him, and they continued together toward Ghanirampur village.

While passing through Bottola, the two were intercepted by locals who claimed to have found four small plastic bottles in their van—one of which reportedly emitted a strong smell that caused two villagers, Alamgir Hossain and Mehedi Hasan, to feel ill.

The situation escalated quickly, and the mob fatally assaulted the two men.

Police have since registered two separate cases and arrested several individuals in connection with the incident.