Locals confine cops after fisherman ‘tortured to death’

A fisherman was beaten to death allegedly by policemen in Patuakhali's Kalapara upazila yesterday.

The victim Sujan Hawladar, 30, son of Abdus Sattar of Baliatali village, was chased and tortured by policemen before his death, alleged locals.

A severe tension was prevailing in the area.

According to locals, members of Banatibazar Naval Police Outpost, led by Assistant Sub-inspector Mamun, chased Sujan's fishing trawler on the Ramnabad river.

Four of the five fishermen on the trawler managed to escape but Sujan was held and tortured, they said, adding that at one point Sujan fell unconscious on the net of his trawler.

As the news of Sujan's death spread, hundreds of agitated locals, including fishermen, went to the spot and confined the policemen.

The victim's relatives rushed him to Kalapara Upazila Health Complex where on-duty doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, after six hours of confinement, additional police force was deployed in the area and the team headed by ASI Mamun was rescued on promises of justice for Sujan.

ABM Humayun Kabir, chairman of Baliatali union, said 20 to 25 policemen from Kalapara and Mahipur police stations went to the spot, assured justice for Sujan, and rescued the confined policemen.

Sub-inspector Shahidul Islam, in-charge of the Banatibazar Naval Police Outpost, said he was on leave when the incident happened.

Asked, ASI Mamun denied the allegations and said the raided Sujan's trawler as he used the current net for fishing.

"He was already lying on the net when we went there," he said. s

Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kalapara Police Station, said the reason behind Sujan's death would be identified once the autopsy report is done.