IS claims Pabna Hindu ashram volunteer killing: SITE

Islamic State (IS) has claimed the responsibility for the killing of a volunteer of a Hindu monastery in Pabna Sadar upazila, according to a report of US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

Nityaranjan Pandey, 60, a sebak at Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra Satsang ashram, was hacked to death yesterday, the latest in a spate of such killings in the country.

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In a tweet, SITE intelligence said, “Amaq News Agency reported that #ISIS fighters in #Bangladesh killed a Hindu man in #Pabna, in the north of the country.”

'Amaq News Agency reported that #ISIS fighters in #Bangladesh killed a Hindu man in #Pabna, in the north of the country

— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) June 10, 2016

The Daily Star could not independently verify it.

After several such killings earlier, SITE Intelligence Group was the first one to post tweets on the claims.

Nityaranjan was hacked around 5:00am yesterday when he was taking his morning walk about half a kilometre away from the ashram, a few yards off the Hemayetpur Mental Hospital, according to police, locals and ashram officials.

“Criminals hacked the victim in the neck, leaving him dead on the spot,” Abdullah Al Hasan, officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station, yesterday.

At least eight people have become victims of such killings since May 1. They include a Christian grocer, a Hindu priest and the wife of a police superintendent hailed for successful anti-militancy drives.