Their brutality limitless

A youth pins him to the ground and starts beating him with a stick. The victim cries in pain, repeatedly begs for mercy, but the youth does not stop.

At one point, another youth with a stick joins the assaulter. Someone present there insists that the beating go on, and over a dozen bystanders do nothing to save the victim.

This is how a youth was tortured in Narayanganj’s Fatullah on December 31 after some locals accused him of stealing goats from a house in the upazila.

Two other youths, accused of the same, were beaten in a similar fashion at the same place.

A video clip of the incident went viral yesterday. The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the clip, but decided not to run it since it was too graphic.

The victims are dyeing mill worker Md Nayeem, 20, bus helper Md Ratul, 18, and electrician Amir Hossain, 25 -- all from Brahmangaon Muslim Para area in Fatullah.

Police and local sources said the incident took place at the office of local Awami League leader Alauddin in Fatullah’s Kutubpur area. 

According to them, the AL leader, also a member of the local union parishad, was present at the scene and the three youths, now in jail, were beaten at his order.

On December 12, two goats were stolen from the house of one Shafiqul Islam in Shahi Mahallah area, according to local police.

Nayeem’s uncle Mohammad Shipon said Alauddin called him over the phone on December 31 and informed him that Nayeem was involved in the theft.

Shipon later learnt that Nayeem was handed over to the police.

Talking to The Daily Star, Shipon said, “My nephew is innocent. Even if he was guilty, does anyone have the right to beat someone this mercilessly?” 

Nayeem’s mother Nazma Begum demanded justice.

Contacted, Alauddin claimed that the theft was captured by a CCTV camera and he intervened after police asked him to “settle” the matter.

He denied that he ordered others to beat the three youths.

Officer-in-Charge Aslam Hossain of Fatullah Police Station said they did not ask Alauddin to resolve anything.

He said they would take action if anyone filed complaints over the torture.