Robbers kill freedom fighter at his N’ganj home

Robbers allegedly broke into a freedom fighter's home and beat him to death before leaving with cash and jewellery in Fatullah of Narayanganj's Sadar upazila early yesterday.

Freedom fighter Abdul Halim, 75, was given a state burial later in the day, said Md Rizaul Haque, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Model Police Station.

Abdul Halim lived with his children and grandchildren in Maolabazar area and was the landlord of the building.

On the night of the incident, he and his son Masood were alone in the house as other family members were visiting a relative, the OC added.

According to Masood, three masked robbers entered their house around 12:30am when he and his father were asleep.

They tied up Masood's hand and legs, gagged him and started beating him. He said he could also hear the robbers beating his father in the other room.

The robbers also looted Tk 20 lakh in cash and gold jewellery from the house and left them bound and gagged.

"Hearing my muffled screams, neighbours came in through the front door, which was found locked from the outside, and found me injured and my father motionless," Masood said.

On information, police arrived at the scene and sent Masood and Halim to the Narayanganj General Hospital, where the latter was pronounced dead.

Later, Rab and the Criminal Investigation Department of Police visited the spot to collect evidence.

Humayun Kabir, sub-inspector of Fatullah Police Station, said, "It is not immediately clear how the intruders got into the flat. There are no signs of breaking and entering. And, though there are four CC cameras installed

around the building, the hard drive of the system was missing."

"The freedom fighter was buried with state honour after an at autopsy at Narayanganj General Hospital."

The autopsy report will reveal the cause of his death, the police official said.

Contacted, the victim's daughter Nurunnessa, said her family recently withdrew Tk 30 lakh from a bank for the building's construction.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Golam Mostafa Rasel, superintendent of Narayanganj police, said, "We are giving high priority to this investigation."

A case will be filed in this regard after completing the routine work, he added.