Rafiqul Islam

Day labourer Rafiqul Islam, who was mistakenly arrested two years ago in connection with a case for beating a youth in September 2013, was arrested again last week for the same offence, which he had never committed.

Rokeya Begum, mother of Rafiqul, 35, of Chatalbaid Bhuiyanpara village in Sakhipur upazila, said plainclothesmen picked up her son while he was taking meal on May 14.

"I told the law enforcers that my son is not the one they are looking for, but they did not pay heed, instead they beat him up while taking him to the police station," Rokeya alleged.  

The following day, police produced Rafiqul before a Tangail court that sent him to jail, Rokeya said.

Saij Uddin of Gajaria village, also plaintiff of the case, yesterday said one Rafiqul Islam, 22, son of Abdur Rashid of Chatalbaid Bhatkurapara village, attacked his nephew Khairul centring a quarrel over playing carom on September 23, 2013.

He filed a case with Sakhiupur Police Station against Rafiqul, who is currently in Singapore for job purpose, and two others in this connection the next day, Saij said.

Earlier, police detained Rafiqul in connecting with the case in May 2015 and later freed the innocent youth after the plaintiff appeared before a court and testified that Rafiqul was not the real accused, Saij said.

Mahbub Alam, Superintendent of Police (SP) in Tangail, said law enforcers made the mistakes due to similarity in names and addresses among the arrestee and the real accused.

"We will take necessary steps for immediate release of Rafiqul and arrange compensation for him," added the SP.