On Saturday night in Rangpur’s Taraganj upazila, a mob brutally beat to death 45-year-old cobbler Ruplal Robidas and his relative, 44-year-old van driver Pradip Chandra Robidas, after accusing them of stealing the rickshaw van they were traveling in. Witnesses say the men repeatedly pleaded that the van was theirs and explained their professions, but the crowd refused to listen. The attack took place around 9:30 PM in the Burtirhat area. Ruplal died at the Taraganj Upazila Health Complex, while Pradip succumbed to his injuries early Sunday at Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Police have registered a case against 500–700 unidentified individuals.
Both victims were the only earning members of their families. Ruplal was returning home to begin preparations for his daughter Nupur’s wedding, with Pradip acting as matchmaker. The families are now left in grief and uncertainty, with the wedding plans shattered. Locals and community leaders confirmed both men belonged to the Dalit community. Advocate Monilal Das of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad condemned the killings as targeted violence, demanding immediate arrests and state compensation for the families.
Following the incident, locals blocked the Rangpur–Dinajpur highway for an hour on Sunday, demanding justice. Police and army officials later assured protesters that the perpetrators would be identified and arrested quickly. Taraganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rubel Rana also pledged financial assistance to ensure Nupur’s wedding can still take place.
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