Eight suspected robbers were killed and four others injured in a lynch-mob attack in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj district early Thursday during their bid to 'loot a rice godown'.

Four of the dead were identified as Shawkat, 30, and Rubel, 28, hailed from Madyapara village in Mymensingh district, Razib alias Rony, 35, from Noakhali and Jewel alias Titu, 32.

The injured are Manik, 25, Lokman, 28, and Sabbir, 22.

Inspector (investigation ) Arifur Rahman of Araihazar thana said the four dead and injured were identified through the call list of their mobile phones.

Narayanganj ASP M Jahirul Islam said Police sent four injured people to Araihazar Health Complex under police custody after rescuing them from the spot.

Quoting local people, the ASP said, 'a gang of robbers' broke the locks of 'Bhai Bhai Store' at Purinda Bazar under satgram union tying up the hands and legs of two night guards at about 4:30am.

One of the night guards, Zaman, managed to flee and informed local people as the robbers were loading rice bags into a truck, he added.

Being informed, local people made an announcement over the loudspeaker of a mosque.  

"Then the villagers rushed in and encircled the dacoits. They also gave them a good beating that  left eight dead on the spot.

Nightguard Zaman said that some poeple came by a truck at about 4:30am and sought their (nightguards') help to load rice on the truck.

"At one stage, they tied us with mufflers and a ropes and started loading rice in the truck breaking open the door of Bhai Bhai Store," he said. Then Zaman, somehow, managed to flee himself and informed police.

A resident in the area said, being chased, three  robber fell into a pond. They were pulled up from the pond and lynched there while five others were beaten to death near the bazar and a kindergarten.

Rice shop owner Abdul Gafur said he was informed around 5:30am about the incident.

He also said that a robbery has been committed to his maternal uncle's shop, a mile away from the spot, few days ago.

ASP Jahirul Islam said the detainees confessed that they were 'professional robbers'  and commit robbery in Mymensingh region.

LY