Mob violence kills 187 in 9 months: HRSS

A total of 187 people were killed in 398 incidents of mob violence and lynching across the country between January and September this year, while political violence claimed 73 lives and injured more than 6,473 people, according to a human rights monitoring report.

The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) released the findings in a media statement on Monday, expressing concern over continued violence, political clashes, deaths in custody and fatalities in prisons.

The report recorded 1,013 incidents of political violence during the nine-month period. It also documented 12 deaths in law enforcement custody or following torture by law enforcement agencies, 13 deaths in election-related violence and 95 deaths among prisoners in jails.

Political violence caused widespread casualties, with the report identifying political disputes, turf wars and election-related clashes among the issues associated with the incidents.

Mob violence and lynching also emerged as a major concern, with 187 deaths recorded in 398 incidents. The findings raise questions about public safety, the rule of law and efforts to prevent mob attacks and ensure accountability.

The report did not provide a detailed breakdown of the election-related deaths or clarify whether they overlapped with the broader political violence figures.

The 12 deaths in law enforcement custody or following torture and the 95 prison deaths also raise concerns about the safety of detainees and the circumstances surrounding deaths in custody. The statement did not provide details of individual cases or the findings of investigations.

HRSS said it compiled the report by reviewing news published in 16 national dailies, collecting its own data and conducting fact-finding activities.

The statement did not include a detailed comparison with the corresponding period in 2025, making it difficult to determine whether violence increased or declined year on year.

The findings highlight continuing concerns over political violence, mob attacks and deaths in custody, underscoring the need for investigations, accountability and stronger safeguards for detainees.