Custodial Death: 2 policemen suspended

Two police officers were suspended following allegations that they tortured a 55-year-old man to death at Amtali Police Station in Barguna yesterday.

The officers also allegedly hung the man's body from the ceiling to make it appear that he died by suicide.

Inspector Manoranjan Mistry and Assistant Sub Inspector Arif Hossain, both suspended after the incident, are facing an investigation, officials said.

Shanu Hawlader, 55, a farmer, died after 6:30am yesterday, three days after he was arrested. A doctor said there were multiple injury marks on his body.

Police arrested him on Monday night at his home in Kalagachia village of Amtali upazila on suspicion of being involved with a murder last year.

He was not an accused in the murder case, grieving family members and locals said.

His wife Jharana Begum and son Shakib Hossain alleged that police demanded Tk 3 lakh in return for releasing him.

As they could not arrange the money on such short notice, Officer-in-charge Abul Bashar and Manoranjan Mistry tortured Shanu to death, they added.

Shakib said he offered Tk 10,000 to the OC on Tuesday, but the officer refused to take the money and asked for the full amount.

"They tortured my father because we couldn't pay the money... When I wanted to see him, the OC told me to bring the money first," he said.

OC Abul Bashar told The Daily Star that the allegations were false. The suspended officers refused to make comments.

On Wednesday, Shakib and his mother Jharana went to the police station to meet Shanu but they were refused by the police officials.

Jahanara's brother Rakibul Islam said, "I heard him scream in agony while I was waiting at the police station to meet him. But they did not let me see him."

Shanu was found hanging from the ceiling fan in Inspector Manoranjan's room the next morning, according to OC Bashar.

He added that Shanu was taken to the bathroom by a constable around 6.30am. But he sneaked out of the bathroom moments later and hung himself.

Police then informed the family about his death, but didn't let anyone enter the police station until about half an hour later, locals and family members said.

At one point, a scuffle broke out with the law enforcers, locals said.

Maruf Hossain, superintendent of police in Barguna, visited Amtali Police Station hours later and suspended Manoranjan and Arifur.

He also formed a three-member committee headed by Additional SP Tofail Ahmed to look into the incident. The committee was asked to submit its report in three days.

"There will be legal action against anyone found guilty in the investigation," SP Maruf said.

Shanu's wife Jharana broke down in tears in front of the police station and told reporters, "I want proper justice."

Shanu's body was sent to Barguna's General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Shankar Prasad Adhikari, upazila health and family planning officer, said there were signs of torture on the body. "However, the exact cause of death will be known after the autopsy," he added.

The incident caused a stir among locals, with community leaders demanding justice for Shanu.

"He could not have died by suicide inside the police station," Gulishali Union Parishad Chairman Mohammad Nurul Islam said, adding that police were trying to make the death look like it was suicide.

Upazila Vice-chairman Mojibur Rahman and Amtali Upazila Municipality Mayor Matiur Rahman told reporters that the police officers' roles were suspicious and they demanded justice.