The victim, Hriday Kumar Harijon, worked as a sanitation worker for Sylhet City Corporation, commonly known as SCCC. He was the father of four children—two sons and two daughters. His funeral rites were completed on Monday afternoon following a post-mortem examination.
According to accounts provided by eyewitnesses and members of the victim’s family, a local man named Amin was allegedly taking photographs of Hriday’s wife, Pinky Rani, on his mobile phone in circumstances that prompted concern. Hriday reportedly objected, leading to a heated argument between the two. The confrontation subsequently escalated into a physical altercation.
The family alleges that Amin left the scene after the dispute but soon contacted associates by mobile phone and called them to the area. They reportedly arrived carrying sharp locally made weapons and attacked Hriday with knives. He sustained serious injuries and died at the scene from excessive blood loss, according to the account provided by his family.
The precise sequence of events and the individual roles of those involved have yet to be established independently. Police are investigating the allegations, including the circumstances that led to the initial confrontation and the subsequent fatal attack.
Hriday’s younger brother, Ajay Kumar Harijon, expressed anguish over the loss and accused the attackers of killing his brother because he had objected to the photographing of his sister-in-law. He also raised concerns about the future of Hriday’s four young children, who have lost their father.
The killing has caused profound distress among the family and people living in the colony. For Hriday’s relatives, the immediate concern is not only the loss of a loved one but also the uncertainty facing his children. His death has also heightened calls among those affected for the people responsible to be identified and brought to justice.
Khan Md Mainul Zakir, officer-in-charge of Sylhet Kotwali Police Station, said on Monday evening that several technology-assisted police teams were conducting intensive operations to identify and arrest Amin, described as the principal suspect, and his alleged associates.
No arrests had been made by Monday evening. However, the officer-in-charge confirmed that police had obtained a video related to the incident. He said the footage appeared to differ in some respects from the initial account provided by the victim’s family.
Police are examining the available evidence to establish what happened and determine the responsibility of those involved. The discrepancies between the family’s initial allegations and the video footage make a thorough investigation particularly important. The footage must be assessed alongside witness statements and other relevant evidence before firm conclusions can be reached.
The investigation is continuing, and police say their efforts to locate and arrest the suspects remain under way. The findings are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the killing and help establish the facts of the case.
For Hriday’s family, the loss is irreversible. His four children now face an uncertain future, while relatives and colleagues await the outcome of the investigation and the prospect of legal action against those found responsible.
