Three people, suspected to be cattle lifters, were beaten to death by local people in Nasirabad area on early Sunday.
According to police, the incident took place at about 2:30am when a group of eight alleged thieves tried to lift cows from the shed of one Abdus Salam Mia.
Hearing noises, Salam shouted for help, drawing villagers out of their homes. What followed was a chaotic chase through the darkness as the locals pursued the fleeing group.
While five of the suspected thieves managed to escape, three were caught and brutally assaulted by the mob. Officer-in-charge of Gobindganj Police Station, Bulbul Islam, said two of them died on the spot, and the third died from his injuries while being taken to Gobindganj Upazila Health Complex.
The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, superintendent of Gaibandha police Nishat Angela, accompanied by senior officials, visited the scene later in the morning.
鈥楢 murder case will be filed, as no one has the right to take the law into their own hands,鈥� OC Bulbul told UNB.
Local residents said incidents of cattle theft had been frequent in the area in recent weeks, leaving villagers frustrated and anxious.
Police have intensified patrols in the area and launched an investigation to identify those involved in the killing, as well as the rest of the suspected cattle lifters who managed to flee.