Raveena Tandon Reacts To Attack On Bangladeshi Hindu Boy Accused Of Blasphemy: 'Heartbreaking'

Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon has expressed her shock over the brutal beating of a 15-year-old Hindu boy, Utsav Mondal, by a mob inside a police station in Bangladesh. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in the Sonadanga residential area of Khulna, after Mondal was accused of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad on social media. Initial local media reports claimed the boy had succumbed to his injuries, but Khulna Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (South), Mohammad Tajul Islam, later confirmed to India Today that the teenager is alive and currently receiving medical treatment.

Taking to her X(formerly Twitter) handle, Raveena Tandon shared a post, along with a caption that read, “Heartbreaking . This world is going back to the dark medievial ages ….”

Take a look:

Prior to this, Raveena Tandon had condemned violence against minorities in Bangladesh amid the ongoing crisis in the country. She had written, “I express my solidarity with the victims and call for an immediate end to this violence. It is essential that Global leaders and influencers, especially from India, speak out against these atrocities and work together to protect the rights and dignity of all people. We must not remain silent in the face of such suffering.”

The incident unfolded around 11:45 PM when a group of local madrasa students brought 15-year-old Utsav Mondal to the police station, accusing him of posting “objectionable comments” about the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. As word spread, tensions escalated, with more students and members of the Imam Association gathering outside the station, demanding severe punishment for the boy.

According to Mohammad Tajul Islam, the students initially called for Utsav to be judged by their own laws, even demanding execution. Despite assurances from the deputy commissioner that legal action would be taken under existing laws, the protestors were unsatisfied. By evening, the crowd swelled to nearly a thousand, creating a highly charged atmosphere.

At one point, a false announcement was made via a mosque loudspeaker, claiming Utsav had been lynched, which momentarily dispersed the crowd. However, when it became clear he was still alive and in police custody, tensions flared again, with the mob demanding that Utsav be handed over to them.

By midnight, the situation spiraled out of control. Despite the presence of police, army, and navy personnel, the mob stormed the police station and brutally assaulted Utsav in their presence.

Utsav, critically injured, was eventually rescued by army personnel and taken for medical treatment. On Thursday morning, authorities confirmed that he is receiving treatment at an army hospital and is currently out of danger. A blasphemy case has been filed against him, and the police have promised to take appropriate legal action.