Beating by father sends 6-yr-old to grave

A six-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by his father for not returning home on time in Akbar Shah area of Chittagong city yesterday afternoon.

Neighbours took Shahin Alam to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he was declared "brought dead".

He had been playing with his friends in Railbeat area when his father Akther Hossain, 56, a day labourer, went there and started slapping and beating him indiscriminately, said witnesses and his playmates.  Then, Akhter took him to the house and slammed him onto the yard following which Shahin lost consciousness, said the witnesses. But the father, who is now in police custody, denied the allegation of slamming his son. According to Akhter, Shahin went to a shop to buy some food but did not return even after an hour. He got angry seeing him playing and beat him,  Akhter admitted.

Akbershah police suspect that the boy might have suffered internal injuries during the beating. No case had been filed till the filing of this report last night.