All the nine policemen of a Horindhora police-box in Savar, where a young businessman was allegedly tortured to death by some policemen early Thursday, were removed on Friday amid heightened tension and anger among the locals.
“The forces of Horindhora police-box have been withdrawn as it is the place where young businessman Shamim Sarkar was allegedly killed,” said Md Faruk Hossain, additional superintendent of police (crime) of Dhaka district.
The police-box now remains empty as all of its forces have been withdrawn and attached to Savar police station. “New forces may be deployed there tomorrow,” he said.
Plainclothes policemen of Savar and Ashulia police stations in support of the accused members from the police-box beat to death 32-year-old Shamim of Hemayetpur in Savar after he was picked up along with another youth, Saiful Islam, late Wednesday night.
The policemen had demanded Tk250,000 from the family members for the release of Shamim, the family alleged. Later in early Thursday, he was tortured to death due to the failure of the payment.
Meanwhile, each of the four policemen of a civil team of Savar police station, who were arrested on Thursday afternoon following their suspension along with two others, were placed on a five-day remand in connection with the killing. The two other suspected policemen are on the run.
“The four policemen were produced before a Dhaka court and police sought seven days to quiz them. The court granted a five-day remand,” said Faruk. “We are also trying to arrest the fugitive policemen.”
After Shamim’s death, his elder brother filed a case with Savar police station accusing policemen of the murder.
Alongside, two inquiry committees headed by Additional Deputy Inspector General (Dhaka range) Mizanur Rahman and another headed by Faruk Hossain have been formed.
According to sources, a total of eight policemen of Savar and Ashulia police station and almost all the nine policemen of Horindhora police-box were involved in the incident. But some of them are allegedly trying to get relieved from the charges in exchange of huge amount of money.
Meanwhile, several thousand people of Savar, Ashulia and Dhaka took part in the janaza of Shamim yesterday morning. The janaza was held on Dhaka-Aricha highway at Savar from 9:30am to 11:00am.
After the janaza, the locals staged demonstrations for the second day demanding arrest of the policemen and exemplary punishment.
On Thursday, they snapped communications for four hours by staging demonstrations and putting blockade on the highway in Savar. The protestors also vandalised more than 15 vehicles and torched a police-box.