Mob beating instils fear and insecurity in society: Court

Providing licence to kill people in a manner reminiscent of mediaeval barbarism would instil fear and insecurity in society, a trial court observed today (9 October) while delivering its verdict in the sensational murder of Renu during a mob beating five years ago.

"When a man descends to the level of a beast, it is better to take his life," said Judge Murshid Ahmed of the Dhaka Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court while sentencing one individual to death and four others to life imprisonment for the murder.

"Unless exemplary punishment is ensured for criminals, such crimes will be repeated, and the tendency to take the law into one's own hands will increase," the court said.

In an observation, the court mentioned that the accused displayed a beastly mentality by brutally beating Renu Begum, a woman abandoned by her husband, to death in a mediaeval manner.

Renu, 40, a single parent of two, was killed by a mob in front of North Badda Government Primary School in Dhaka on the morning of 20 July 2019, after being falsely accused of being a child abductor. She had gone to the school to inquire about the admission process for her four-year-old daughter, Tahsin Tuba.

Around 11:10am, the judge began reading out the verdict, saying, "This is a sensational murder case. I have seen it covered on television, in newspapers, and magazines. Fortunately, I am the one reading out the verdict."

The court noted that the most important evidence in this case is the video footage, adding, "Without it, it would have been difficult to reach a verdict. There are four video clips. I would like to present them."

Later, the court showed two video clips, each lasting five minutes. Renu's sister, Nazmun Nahar Najma, was seen crying in the courtroom after watching the video.

In the midst of the proceedings, the judge asked, "Who is Abul Kalam?" – the individual sentenced to life imprisonment. The accused, Abul Kalam, raised his hand from the cage.

Addressing him, the judge said, "Did you see what you were doing?" Kalam responded, "I told everyone to stop. Please stop. Let her speak. We want to hear her. But no one listened."

The judge then noted that there were some weaknesses in the investigation.

Turning to Ibrahim alias Ridoy Mollah, the accused who received the death sentence, the judge said, "See if you recognise yourself."

After watching the video, the judge remarked, "The majority participated in killing one person. There is no doubt she was murdered."

While reading out the verdict, the judge stated in his observations, "Upon reviewing the case diary, it is evident that the accused showed no regard for the law. Accused Ibrahim mercilessly and brutally struck the victim on both hands, shoulders, chest, thighs, and legs with a stick and continued to beat her until her death was confirmed.

"The killing of Renu was a gruesome, hellish, and brutal incident. The manner in which she was lynched represents mediaeval barbarism and is a horror to every person in society."

The judge stated, "Accused Ibrahim killed a woman who had been abandoned by her husband, leaving her two children helpless, by cruelly and brutally beating her without any reasonable cause, revealing his beastly mentality. 

"He has no previous record of crime or conviction, but there is no justification for a lenient sentence, as he brutally assaulted the victim to ensure her death."

The judge further said, "In light of the ruthlessness, cruelty, insanity, and depravity displayed during the commission of the offence, it would not be appropriate to sentence him to life imprisonment. He has tarnished his reputation in society through this crime."

Ibrahim was sentenced to death, while four other accused – Ria Begum Maina, Abul Kalam Azad, Kamal Hossain, and Asadul Islam – were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Accused Ibrahim was produced in court from jail, while the others were present in court on bail. After the verdict, they were sent to prison.

Following the incident in 2019, the police arrested several individuals after reviewing video footage of the mob attack.

Ria Khatun, 35, was among those arrested for instigating the attack by accusing Renu of being a child abductor. Ibrahim Hossain Hridoy was seen in the footage actively participating in the beating, even continuing to strike Renu's seemingly lifeless body.

Renu's nephew, Syed Nasir Uddin, filed the case with Badda police station against 400-500 unidentified individuals following the incident.

Renu, originally from Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur, was living in Mohakhali, Dhaka, with her two children at the time of the incident. She had been divorced from her husband two years earlier.