Man Detained After Being Accused of Filming Fire Incident and Having Links to India
19 December 2025, Voice of Minority(VOM):- A young man was detained and beaten by a mob in Jhenaidah on Friday after being suspected of acting as an Indian spy. The incident occurred amid heightened tension following a fire at a garment shop in the town. The victim was later handed over to police, who have launched an investigation into the matter.
The detained youth has been identified as Gopal Biswas, son of Banamali Biswas, a resident of Mathurapur village under Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the incident took place around 3:30 pm on Friday on Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy Road, in front of a garment showroom near the Jhenaidah municipality. Earlier, a fire broke out at the garment shop, sparking unrest and drawing a large crowd to the area.
The garment shop is reportedly owned by Ashfaq Mahmud Jano, the convener of the Jhenaidah district unit of the Jubo League. The fire incident intensified public anxiety, leading to an atmosphere of suspicion and confusion.
Witnesses said that during the commotion, Gopal Biswas was seen recording videos of the scene using his mobile phone. His actions raised suspicion among a group of local youths and students, who stopped him and questioned his identity and purpose. He reportedly claimed that he was a rickshaw puller.
However, tensions escalated after members of the crowd checked his mobile phone. They allegedly found conversations written in Hindi across several WhatsApp groups, along with contact and communication details linked to the State Bank of India. These findings fueled accusations that he might be involved in espionage activities.
Following these allegations, an angry mob reportedly assaulted him, accusing him of spying. The situation threatened to spiral out of control before police were informed. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and took the youth into custody to prevent further violence.
Confirming the incident, Shamsul Arefin, Officer-in-Charge of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station, said the man had previously lived in India and still maintains contacts there. However, he stressed that such information alone does not prove espionage.
“The matter is under investigation. Whether the detained individual is actually involved in spying activities is yet to be determined,” the officer said, adding that legal procedures are ongoing and the case is being handled according to the law.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over mob violence, the spread of misinformation, and the dangers of taking the law into one’s own hands during moments of public unrest. Authorities have urged citizens to remain calm and allow law enforcement agencies to conduct investigations through proper legal channels.
