Sub-Inspector Halimur Rahman of Lalmonirhat Sadar police station has been withdrawn on the allegation of torturing a suspect to death on Thursday night.
He was withdrawn and attached to the district police lines on Friday. Moreover, the authorities have also launched an inquiry in connection with the matter, the second report of custodial death from the district in three months.
Superintendent of Police Abida Sultana confirmed the matter to Bangla Tribune on Friday.
"An autopsy will be conducted in the presence of the local upazila chairman, union chairman and relatives to find out the real cause of his death,” she added.
In January, police launched probe into the death of 34-year-old Himangshu, who died allegedly in custody at Hatibandha police station.
The locals set up a fair in Banglabazar area of Mahendranagar on Thursday to mark the Bengali New Year. A police team led by SI Halimur launched an operation when some people were allegedly engaged in gambling in the fair.
Police chased and arrested two people – Robiul Islam Khan, 25, and Prahlad Chandra Roy – while others managed to flee. At that time, Robiul protested the detention, saying that he did not gamble, but it angered SI Halimur and other police members.
They beat up Robiul while SI Halimur kicked his genital, leaving him critically injured, said his brother Sohag and mother Safia Begum.
“He went to the fair to buy toys for his little daughter,” Safia told Bangla Tribune.
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Robiul was first taken to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital, where he died after some time. Angry locals then blocked the road in protest.
Resident Medical Officer of the hospital Kamrul Hasan said: “When he was brought to the hospital, his condition was not good. So we recommended taking him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital but he died after a while.”
He further said that the real cause of death could be known only after conducting an autopsy.
Lalmonirhat Sadar police station OC Saha Alam, however, claimed that Robiul was not beaten up.
“He fell sick after trying to evade arrest and suffered from shortness of breath. He was then rushed to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment. The police did not torture them,” he added.
The OC said that the victim’s family did not file any case over the matter.