A student of Northern University was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths on suspicion of theft in Khulna on Saturday.
A Northern University student died after being taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital with critical injuries, amid allegations that he had been beaten over a theft accusation on Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Azmal, son of Md Qutb, from Gallamari area in Harintana, Khulna.
According to police, Azmal was a student of Northern University.
Hospital sources said several young men brought Azmal to the hospital around 1:30 am on Saturday ,claiming that he had jumped from the fourth floor of a building in the Khulna University area and sustained serious injuries.
Hospital records identified the deceased as Azmal and listed his address as Gallamari, Harintana, Khulna. He died while undergoing treatment around 10 to 15 minutes after being admitted.
The young men who took him to the hospital reportedly left shortly after his death. Hospital sources said several injury marks were visible on Azmal’s body, raising suspicions that he may have been beaten before his death.
However, it has not yet been established whether Azmal sustained the injuries after falling from the fourth floor or whether he had been assaulted beforehand.
A ward boy on duty at the hospital said, "The people who accompanied Azmal claimed that he had been detained on suspicion of theft. According to them, Azmal allegedly jumped from the fourth floor of a building in the Khulna University area while trying to escape after being caught stealing."
A nearby house owner, Abu Bakar, however, alleged that the people involved were former students of Khulna University. He claimed that they had taken Azmal to the rooftop, tortured him and then threw him from the building. He also said Azmal used to live in a nearby room.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Harintana Police Station, Md Iqbal Hossain, said police were investigating the incident.
“The actual cause of Azmal’s death will be confirmed after the autopsy report and analysis of other relevant information,” he said. Police are also trying to contact the family members of the deceased.
According to preliminary information, Azmal was allegedly taken to a rooftop and beaten after being accused of theft, before he fell from the building. However, police have yet to establish the exact circumstances leading to his death.
The OC said students from several universities live in the area. Azmal was also a student of Northern University Bangladesh. Police suspect that both students and local youths may have been involved in the incident.