A 40-year-old tractor driver named Arif Hossain was beaten to death over allegations of stealing a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw in Chandina, Cumilla. On Tuesday (September 1), around 2:30 PM, he was brought to the Chandina Upazila Health Complex in critical condition, where the duty doctor declared him dead.The deceased, Arif Hossain, was the only son of Ali Miah from the Harikhola Mazar Bari area under Keronkhal Union of the upazila.According to local and police sources, an auto-rickshaw was recently stolen from the neighboring Kuruin village in Debidwar upazila. Locals detained a youth named Sakil regarding the incident. Based on information provided by Sakil, locals picked up Arif Hossain from the Harikhola area on Monday (August 31) night. It is alleged that he was taken to various locations throughout the night and subjected to torture.The following Tuesday morning, Arif was brought back to Harikhola. From there, residents of Kuruin village abducted him again in the presence of a large crowd. Later in the afternoon, several individuals left Arif at the hospital in critical condition, where attending physicians declared him dead.Expressing deep grief and anger, the victim’s father, Ali Miah, said, "They unlawfully abducted my only son and beat him to death. I demand justice for this murder."Shamim Hossain, the local Ward Member of Keronkhal Union, stated, "Even if Arif were involved in the theft, his family or local elders should have been informed. Taking the law into one's own hands and beating a person to death by creating a mob is entirely unacceptable."Chandina Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Nuruzzaman said police rushed to the spot immediately after being informed by the hospital authorities. Investigation is underway to identify those involved in the lynching and take legal action.