Mugging suspect dies in custody
A man detained for suspected involvement in mugging was allegedly tortured to death in police custody in Narayanganj on Friday night.
Police, however, denied the allegations and claimed that Fakir Chan, 35, died on way to hospital from injuries he suffered when he tried to escape.
The family of Chan, a transport worker, alleged that police tortured him for bribe.
Chan's wife Rahela Begum, who lives in Mijimiji Painadi area in Siddhirganj, said that her husband gave Sub-Inspector (SI) Babul Akhter of Siddhirganj Police Station and police informer Nafal some money after they demanded Tk 50,000 from him.
On April 12, police arrested Chan in Sylhet. He was first taken to Siddhirganj Police Station, then to Narayanganj Model Thana and finally to the office of district Detective Branch (DB) of police where ASP Zannatul Ferdous interrogated him.
After getting no answer why he was arrested, Rahela filed a petition with superintendent of police on April 15 enquiring his condition and demanding his release.
The ASP had brutally tortured her husband while he was in custody, which caused his death, Rahela alleged.
At 12:10am yesterday, some plainclothes policemen took the body in a private car of Fareast Insurance Company and attempted to leave the body on a trolley at Khanpur Hospital in Narayanganj when hospital staffs stopped them.
They declined to answer any query before ASP Zannatul Ferdous reached there.
The ASP asked the doctors to prepare a document saying that Chan had died after admitting to the hospital, but he left the scene when the correspondent of a private television channel got there.
There were blood clots in the legs, wrists, cheeks and neck of the body, sources at the hospital said. Besides, there were four-inch-deep wound on the right knee and injuries in the head.
On-duty doctor Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury told The Daily Star that Chan was brought to the hospital dead and there were injuries in his body.
Contacted, district police public relations officer claimed that Chan was injured when he attempted to flee on his way to the police station Friday night. Later during interrogation at district DB office, he complained of chest pain and when he was taken to the hospital, the doctors declared him dead, he added.
The police officer also claimed that they have recovered a part of the mugged money in Siddhirganj from Chan's possession.
Contacted, ASP Zannatul Ferdous denied torturing Chan.
Comments