Hindu tailor hacked to death in Bangladesh

Reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh —  A Hindu tailor was hacked to death Saturday in central Bangladesh, police said, an attack that was similar to other recent slayings in the Muslim-majority nation.

Police suspect that Nikhil Joardar, 50, may have been targeted because of a 2012 complaint that he had made derogatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad. Joardar spent a few weeks in jail but was released after the complaint was withdrawn.

The Islamic State-affiliated Aamaq news agency reported that elements of the extremist group had stabbed to death a Hindu tailor in Bangladesh who was “known for insulting Prophet Muhammad,” according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant activity online.

Police said Joardar was attacked by three assailants who sped up to his shop on a motorcycle at around 12:30 p.m. and dragged him outside.

“They swooped on him with machetes and kept on stabbing him,” said Aslam Khan, an officer in the Tangail district, where the attack took place.

It was the latest in a series of attacks, against secular bloggers, university academics, members of religious minorities, foreign visitors and recently, a gay rights activist and his friend.

Islamic State and affiliates of Al Qaeda have claimed responsibility for many of the killings. However, the government does not accept that these groups have a presence in Bangladesh and says home-grown militants are to blame.

Kader is a special correspondent.

ALSO

An islet the size of your bedroom has Japan and Taiwan fighting

Japan doesn’t want the U.S. to apologize for bombing Hiroshima. Here’s why

Pentagon modifies training and targeting after deadly U.S. attack on hospital