Cop arrested over death of farmer
A police official was arrested in Gopalganj's Kotalipara upazila last night for allegedly assaulting a farmer who died of his injuries on Wednesday evening at the Dhaka Pangu hospital.
The arrested police official – who was suspended on Saturday evening -- is Shamim Hasan, assistant sub-inspector of Kotalipara Police Station.
Md Lutfar Rahman, officer in-charge of the police station, said that Shamim was closed to Gopalganj Police lines on Saturday evening and arrested last night, along with Md Rezaul Islam, son of late Kader Ali of the area.
ASI Shamim will be produced before the court today, the OC said.
A case was filed at 9:30pm last night by Mintu Talukdar, brother of the deceased, Nikhil Talukdar, 32, a farmer.
According to Nikhil's cousin Milon Talukdar and a local named Jhantu who was with Nikhil when the incident took place, Shamim assaulted the 32-year-old farmer at 11:00am on Tuesday morning when the police official, along with a few locals including Rezaul, happened upon Nikhil, Jhantu and two others playing cards.
According to their account, Shamim spotted the four and started recording the quartet's activity from afar, when three of them fled, but Nikhil was caught and the police official assaulted him.
Shamim hit Nikhil's spine with his knees a few times and that, according to Jhantu and Milon, caused a fracture to his back.
At first Nikhil was taken to Barishal Sher-e-Bnagla Medical College, before doctors referred him to Dhaka Pangu Hospital as his physical condition worsened. He died under treatment around 4:00 pm on Wednesday.
Muhammad Saidur Rahman Khan, superintendent of police of Gopalganj said to The Daily Star, "A three-member departmental investigation team has been formed to probe the incident and the team was asked to submit the report within three working days. After getting the investigation report, we will take necessary steps."
Media reports yesterday also claimed that the matter had been settled through an out-of-court payment of Tk 5 lakh to the victim's family.
Nikhil's cousin Milon Talukdar said, "In a meeting at the conference room of Kotalipara Upazila Parishad the incident was settled with Tk 5 lakh. They gave us Tk 2 lakh and assured that they would provide us jobs."
OC Lutfar said, "I was not present when the money was given to Nikhil's family. I attended the mourning meeting of Nikhil which was held at Kotalipara upazila parishad conference room. The upazila parishad chairman and other local leaders gave the money."
Talking to The Daily Star, Khokon Bala, chairman of Ramshil union parishad, said the issue was settled with Tk 5 lakh in the presence of Bimal Krishna Biswas, chairman of Kotalipara upazila parishad and some other local influential persons.
All of them assured the family member that they would ensure a job for Nikhil's wife Iti Talukdar. When contacted, UP Chairman Biswas said the money was not part of an extra-legal settlement.
"We knew that the family was poor and wanted to help them," Biswas said. "I personally contributed, and I asked some influential locals to contribute, and we gave the family Tk 2 lakh. We will pay the rest later.
"Our main intention was to help the family and punish the police official," Biswas added.
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