Christian trader killed in Natore, 'IS claims murder'

A veteran Christian businessman has been hacked to death in Natore’s Borigram upazila today. Terrorist outfit Islamic State reportedly claimed responsibility of the killing.

Shunil Gomez, 60, a local businessman of a Christian-dominated area in Bonpara was hacked to death at 12:00pm, our local correspondent reports quoting police authority.

Shafiqul Islam, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Boraigram circle, endorsed the facts and added that law enforcers have been sent to the area for further investigation.

Meanwhile, hours after the murder, US-based SITE Intelligence Group quoted ‘Amaq agency’ to report that Islamic State has claimed responsibility of the murder.

Shopna Gomes, daughter of Shunil Gomes weeps over the death of her father who was stabbed dead by unknown miscreants in Natore. Photo taken on May 6, 2016. Photo: Star

'Amaq Agency of #ISIS reported that ISIS fighters killed a Christian named Sunil Gomes in Bonpara village in northwestern #Bangladesh

— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) June 5, 2016

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Inspector Inam Ahmed, who was investigating at the crime scene, told The Daily Star that the attack bore hallmark of previous militant killings carried out on free thinkers and people belonging to differing faiths.

The victim was attacked from the rear, struck thrice on his neck, he said.

Meanwhile, locals of the community formed a human-chain protesting the gruesome murder this evening.

Earlier, a Hindu tailor, Nikhil Joarder, 50, in Gopalpur upazila of Tangail was murdered in the same fashion on April 30. 

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The northern division has been plagued by at least 15 untoward incidents for the past seven months that relate to militancy and resulted in death of at least six people including a foreigner.

There have been attacks on temples of the Hindu minority, mosques belonging to Shia minority and murder attempts of Christian pastors and others.

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Responsibility of all those attacks, bomb blasts and killings have been claimed by militants.