India, July 13 -- At least seven people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Hindu scrap trader in Bangladesh last week, an incident that triggered widespread protests in the South Asian country that has witnessed a rise in atrocities against minorities in recent months.

Apart from the seven people arrested, 12 other accused are still on the run, media reports said.

The scrap trader, who was identified as Lal Chand Sohag, 39, was killed by a mob in front of the Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury described the incident as 'barbaric'.

He told Prothom Alo: "The murder that took place in Mitford of the capital is extremely tragic and barbaric. Such inciden...