2022 Land Dispute Death Misrepresented as Recent Communal Violence

Recently, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a claim circulated featuring a photograph of an individual, alleged to be Narendra Nath Munda, a Hindu resident of Shyamnagar in Satkhira, Bangladesh. The claim stated that he was killed in an armed attack by radical Muslims.

You can view the post shared on X (formerly Twitter) here (archive).

Fact-Check

The Rumor Scanner team’s investigation revealed that the murder of Narendra Nath Munda was not a recent event but occurred in 2022. Furthermore, the attack was not communal in nature; it stemmed from a land dispute. Narendra Nath Munda was attacked due to this land conflict. After sustaining severe injuries, he passed away while receiving treatment on August 20, 2022.

An examination of the circulated post revealed no reliable evidence supporting the claim. A reverse image search of the attached photo led to a Facebook post by an account named Engr Mrinal K. Madhu (archive link). This post, published on August 21, 2022, also featured the image in question.

Comparison : Rumor Scanner

The caption of the post by Mrinal stated:“In Satkhira’s Shyamnagar, #Indigenous_Munda_Community member Narendra Nath Munda passed away while receiving treatment at Satkhira Medical College Hospital after sustaining severe injuries during a brutal attack aimed at seizing property from the Munda community. I strongly condemn this incident and demand exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. I also call for a social resistance movement against
the attackers.”

A keyword search revealed a news report published on August 21, 2022, by VOA Bangla titled, “Narendra Nath Munda, Injured in a Terrorist Attack in Satkhira’s Shyamnagar, Dies; Two Arrested.”

According to the report:
“On the morning of August 19, 2022, in the Dhumghat area of Shyamnagar, approximately 200 people led by Rashedul Islam and Ibadul Islam of Srifalkati village launched an attack to seize land belonging to the Munda community. They vandalized and looted Munda homes. […] Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Wahid Morshed stated: ‘On Friday, a group of around 200 hired attackers led by Ebadul Islam of Srifalkati village allegedly launched the attack to grab eight bighas of land belonging to the Munda community in Dhumghat. When the Mundas resisted, they were brutally beaten, resulting in severe injuries to Bilashi Munda, Rina Munda, Sulta Munda, and Narendra Munda. The police rescued them and admitted them to the hospital, where Narendra Munda passed away at Satkhira Medical College on the afternoon of Saturday, August 20, 2022.’”

Additionally, a related report was found in the mainstream media outlet Prothom Alo, titled, “Protest Program Demanding Justice for the Murder of Narendra Munda”. This report corroborates the information about the incident.

The Prothom Alo report further mentions that on September 1, 2022, a sit-in program was held at the Shyamnagar Upazila Parishad grounds demanding justice for the murder of Narendra Munda and an end to attacks on the Munda community. During the program, speakers stated that the attacks on the Munda community were motivated solely by greed for their property. They called for the dismantling of the syndicate responsible for such attacks.

Thus, the attack was motivated by greed for property, not communal hatred. Furthermore, the incident took place in 2022.

Conclusion

The death of Narendra Nath Munda on August 20, 2022, resulting from injuries sustained during a land dispute-related attack, has been falsely portrayed as a recent communal incident. This claim is misleading.

Sources

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