Published 20:27 IST, October 21st 2019
Deadly police shootings killing 4 ignite mass protests in Bangladesh
Thousands of people protested against Bangladesh police on Monday, a day after at least four people were killed when officers fired on a protest rally
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Thousands of Bangladeshis hit the streets across the country on Monday to protest the killing of citizens during a protest rally a day before. At least four people were reportedly killed and 47 others injured as police clashed with a violent mob in Bangladesh's Bhola district over an offensive Facebook post. The incident took place at around 11 am on October 20 when hundreds of local Muslims gathered in a field demanding the trial of a Hindu man, who has been accused of making sensitive comments against Prophet Muhammad on the social media platform on Friday, according to the reports.
Around 20,000 Muslims have urged for execution
Around 20,000 Muslims have urged for the execution of the young Hindu man for making derogatory comments on Facebook that have allegedly hurt the sentiments of the Muslims and defamed the Prophet. Police said that they opened fire after the protesters pelted rocks at officers. Four people died and nearly 50 were injured, of them at least seven have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition. The mob attacks and protests that spurred over 'blasphemous' online posts have emerged as a major threat to Bangladeshi security forces where Muslims make up some 90% of the country's 168 million population. The deaths have sparked a new round of protests on Monday as thousands of Muslims across several cities shouted slogans and called for the officers to be put on trial.
Hindu man booked for spreading religious violence
Calling for peace, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the accused man's Facebook account was hacked by a Muslim who used it to "spread lies". Local police chief Enamul Haque told the media that thousands of protestors who took part in the Bhola protests are being investigated and no arrests have been made yet. The violence was second such incident since 2016 in the Muslim-majority country when protestors attacked Hindu temples in eastern Brahmanbaria town following a blasphemous Facebook post.
19:45 IST, October 21st 2019