‘Fakir’, his attendant found slaughtered at his den in Chittagong

A self-proclaimed ‘Fakir’ (dervish) and his attendant have been found dead with their throats slit at his sanctum in Chittagong’s Baizid area for yet unclear reasons, police say.

A youth barged into the den on Friday noon and slaughtered the two in a chilling reminder of the killing of a self-styled saint and five others in Dhaka in 2013.

The incident took place at Shershah Bangla Bazar’s Purbachal area, said Paritosh Ghosh, Deputy Commissioner (north) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

The victims are ‘Fakir’ Rahmatullah alias ‘Lengta Mamu’, 60, and his attendant Md Abdul Kader, 30.

Rahmatullah’s sanctum was locally known as ‘Lengta Mamur Mazar’.

City police’s Additional Commissioner Debdas Bhattacharya said they were investigating whether the incident was a result of enmity or if any ‘anti-Mazar’ forces were involved.

Locals say a youth went to the sanctum during Juma prayers, slaughtered the duo and fled over the hills through Jamtala.

The killer exploded two handmade bombs when locals chased him, injuring Md Monir, 26, and Md Munna, 7.

Monir said he had seen a youth leaving the area with a knife and a bag after the weekly prayers.

“He tried to run away after people atop nearby buildings started shouting ‘thief, thief’,” he said. “As I approached to catch him, he took out two bombs and hurled them at me.”

The youth appearing to be in his mid-20s was in a red T-shirt and trousers, he added.

Locals rushed Rahmat and Kader to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead, CMCH police outpost’s Assistant Sub-Inspector Pankaj Barua said.

Deputy Commissioner Ghosh told bdnews24.com the self-proclaimed ‘Fakir’ was found inside his sanctum with his throat slit.

“It appears that ‘Lengta Mamu’ was killed when he was asleep and his attendant was murdered when he ‘caught’ the killer,” he said.

He said the incident was ‘planned’.

“The killer slashed the right side of ‘Lengta Mamu’s throat and there was no other sign of injury on his body,” he added.

Police have recovered a multi-coloured t-shirt from the sanctum, which, Additional Deputy Commissioner (North) Shariful Islam says they believe is the killer’s.

There were bloodstains on the santum’s floor and outside of it but nothing appeared to have been stolen, a bdnews24.com correspondent said after visiting the site.

Local resident Md Shahabuddin, a regular visitor to the sanctum, said the ‘Fakir’ had been living in the area for about 25 years.

His attendant Kader had been with him for about a decade.

Many of the ‘Fakir’s followers were seen wailing outside his sanctum.

The ‘Fakir’ moved to a brick-built house with his attendant several years ago from a tin-shed hut.

Shahabuddin said a weekly gathering was held at the sanctum every Thursday where many people from outside the area attended.