Rayhan’s death ‘in custody’: Suspended SI Akbar held from border area

Suspended SI Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan, prime suspect of custodial killing of Rayhan in Sylhet, has been detained in border area of Lakshmiprashad at Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet, police said.

Contacted, Abdul Karim, assistant superintendent of Sylhet District Police (Kanaighat Circle), said,"He was detained while trying to flee to India."

However, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), the investigation authority of the case, said Akbar was held by locals of a Khasi village in India and was later handed over to Bangladesh Police.

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In several videos posted on Facebook, it is seen that Akbar was detained and tied up by Khasi people where several Bangla speaking individuals were also present.

Akbar was seen pleading locals not to beat him or tie him up. He also claimed that he did not kill Rayhan.

Muhammad Khaled-uz-Zaman, special superintendent of PBI in Sylhet, said, "As far as we are informed, Akbar was in India and was detained by the local Khasi people who later handed him over to (Bangladesh) police".

Lt Col Sayeed Hossain, commanding officer of 19 Battalion of BGB, said, "Akbar was detained by people of a Khasi village. Later, they contacted one Abdur Rahim, a resident of the bordering area. Rahim contacted police and via him, Akbar was handed over to police."

"That part of the border is quite remote and before we were informed, Khasi people handed Akbar over to the Bangladeshi person," he said.

Meanwhile, Sylhet District Police will address a press conference at 5:00pm to inform details.

PBI SSP Muhammad Khaled-uz-Zaman said, "Once district police hand him over to us, we will show him arrested in the case and produce him before the court."