Self-proclaimed 'pir' lynched in Kushtia over blasphemy allegations

A self-proclaimed spiritual leader (pir) was beaten and hacked to death after a group of locals attacked his shrine in Kushtia's Daulatpur upazila on Saturday, allegedly over accusations of hurting religious sentiment.

The incident took place around 2:30pm in South-West Philipnagar village under Philipnagar union in the upazila.

The victim, identified as 55-year-old Shamim Reza, also known as Jahangir, had been running the shrine as a religious establishment, claiming himself to be a pir.

Police and eyewitnesses said a group of people brought out a protest procession before storming the shrine. The attackers assaulted Shamim Reza with sharp weapons and beat him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured.

He later died from his injuries. Several others present at the site, including followers, were also injured.

During the attack, the mob vandalized the premises and set parts of it on fire.

Daulatpur Police Station officer-in-charge Ariful Islam said the violence was apparently triggered by a video circulating on social media, which the attackers had watched. 

Authorities believe the footage was old. “Some agitated local carried out the attack after seeing the video,” he said, adding that the situation is now under police control. 

The body has been kept at the Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex.

Police sources said Shamim Reza had previously faced legal action. In May 2023, a case was filed against him at Daulatpur Police Station over allegations of hurting religious sentiments, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. 

After serving in jail, he had returned to the shrine and resumed his activities with followers.

Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jasim Uddin said authorities are yet to identify the attackers but confirmed that they were local residents. 

“There had been reactions to his activities before. A previously recorded video showing him making remarks about the Quran and religion appears to have resurfaced, triggering an immediate reaction,” he said.

He added that a large number of locals participated in the attack and that police are working to identify those involved. “It was not an attack by outsiders. The locals were already dissatisfied with his activities,” the police chief said.