Late on Wednesday night, a small village in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district descended into chaos. By the time the violence subsided, a man lay dying the latest victim of mob justice in a country already on edge after a similar killing days earlier.

The man was Amrit Mandal, also known locally as Samrat. Residents of Hosaindanga village say the confrontation erupted close to midnight after allegations that he had demanded extortion money. Within minutes, a crowd gathered. What followed was a brutal assault that police say spiralled beyond control.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (Pangsha Circle) Debrata Sarkar said officers rushed to the area after receiving information that villagers had beaten a man. When police reached the spot, Samrat was found in critical condition. He was taken to the Pangsha Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead at around 2 am.

Police records show that Samrat was not unknown to law enforcement. Officials said he had at least two criminal cases registered against him, including one for murder. Villagers alleged that he operated a local criminal group, often referred to as “Samrat Bahini”, and was involved in extortion and other illegal activities. Some residents told police that he had stayed in India for a long period before recently returning to the village.

Investigators say the violence was triggered when Samrat allegedly went to the home of Shahidul Islam to collect extortion money. As family members shouted “robbers” for help, neighbours rushed in. Samrat was attacked, while several of his associates managed to escape in the confusion.

One associate, Mohammad Selim, was caught at the scene and later handed over to police. According to The Daily Star, police recovered two firearms from his possession a pistol and a locally made one-shooter gun.

The killing has heightened anxiety because it comes just days after another Hindu man was lynched in Bangladesh. On December 18, 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker living in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, was accused by locals of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Police said he was beaten to death, his body tied to a tree and set on fire. His remains were later sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

That incident drew condemnation from the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which said there was no place for communal hatred or mob violence in what it described as a “New Bangladesh”, and promised strict action against those responsible.

The Rajbari killing has unfolded against a backdrop of growing instability across the country. Protests, vandalism and attacks on political and diplomatic locations have erupted following the death of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who succumbed to gunshot injuries while receiving treatment in Singapore. In recent days, security forces have blocked protesters attempting to march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, while the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong was pelted with stones last week.

Police say investigations are ongoing and efforts are underway to identify those involved in the Rajbari assault. For now, the twin killings have left communities fearful — and raised fresh questions about law, order and mob violence in Bangladesh.