OC withdrawn over custodial death of man in Barguna

The officer-in-charge of Amtali Police Station in Barguna was withdrawn yesterday following the death of a 55-year-old man at the police station  on Thursday.

Abul Bashar, the OC, was withdrawn and attached to Barguna Police lines in an order signed by the superintendent of police in the district, our Patuakhlai correspondent reports quoting Tofayel Ahmed, additional superintendent of police.

The hanging body of Shanu Hawlader, 55, a farmer, was found at the police station on Thursday morning, three days after he was arrested.

Two police officers -- Inspector Manoranjan Mistry and Assistant sub-inspector Arif Hossain -- were suspended on the same day following allegations that they tortured the man to death.

ASP Tofayel of Barguna police is leading a three-member probe committee to investigate the murder.

Shanu Hawlader's 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, OC Abul Bashar and Manoranjan Mistry tortured Shanu to death, they claimed.

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.

Bashar, however, denied the allegations. The suspended officers also refused to comment further on the issue.