Prime accused Amini confesses his involvement in Satkhira mob killing

Prime accused Fazlul Haque Amini gave a confessional statement before a court on Sunday in a case filed over the mob beating and killing of a youth, Wahiduzzaman Shamim, in Debhata, Satkhira, following allegations of “religious defamation.”

Satkhira Senior Judicial Magistrate Nusrat Jahan recorded the statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, said Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge HM Shaheen.

Earlier, at around 11pm on Saturday, Amini was arrested during a joint operation by police and the SRB in the Krishnanagar area of Kaliganj upazila.

Following the arrest, he told reporters that the killing was an “unintended outcome” and that he did not believe he was guilty. However, he was aware that the law would hold him otherwise, Amini told reporters.

So far, three accused, including Amini, have been arrested in connection with the case. The other arrestees are Mokhtar Hossain Khan and Asadul Islam Molla.

On Monday and Tuesday, Wahiduzzaman Shamim, 35, of Debhata upazila, was beaten by mobs in three separate attacks over alleged derogatory remarks about religion, leading to his death. His family claimed that he had been suffering from mental illness for a long time, and was on medication.

Shamim’s elder brother, Abdul Jalil, filed a murder case with Debhata Police Station on Thursday night, naming 10 people and accusing another 200 to 250 unidentified individuals.