Rayhan’s Death ‘in Custody’: Suspended constable held

A suspended constable was arrested and placed on a five-day remand yesterday in connection with the death and alleged torture while in police custody of Rayhan Ahmed.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) members arrested constable Titu Chandra Das from Sylhet Police Lines, where he was attached after being withdrawn from the outpost, Muhammad Khaled-uz-Zaman, special superintendent of PBI in Sylhet, said.

Sylhet Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman granted the five-day remand after PBI inspector and the case's investigating officer Mohidul Islam requested a seven-day remand, he said.

On Monday, three constables -- Shamim, Saidul and Delwar -- of the outpost testified before the court as witnesses.

Rayhan, 33, of Sylhet city's Neharipara died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital at 7:50am on October 11 after being admitted by police an hour ago.

His wife filed a case with Kotwali Police Station, accusing several unnamed and stated that Rayhan was tortured inside Bandarbazar Police Outpost for money.

Finding evidence of their involvement, Sylhet Metropolitan Police suspended four police personnel -- Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan, in-charge and sub-inspector of the police outpost, constables Harun-ur-Rashid, Titu Chandra Das and Towhid Miah.

They also withdrew assistant sub-inspectors Ashek Ali, Kutub Ali and constable Sajib Hossain from the outpost.

Following an SMP order to attach all seven to the police lines, SI Akbar, the prime accused, has been untraceable since Monday.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen visited Rayhan's house at Neharipara to express his condolences to the victim's family yesterday afternoon.

After the visit, he said, "We believe that the prime suspect Akbar cannot run away from the country as the immigration posts were alerted. Even if he flew away, we'll bring him back like we brought the prime accused of Rajon's murder from Saudi Arabia.

He also handed over Tk 2 lakh to Rayhan's family, for Rayhan's child, on behalf of Momen Foundation.