Police have arrested constable Shakil Ahmed and his wife Nasrin for allegedly cutting off part of an eight-year-old boy’s finger following a dispute between the boy and the couple's four-year-old daughter while they were playing.
The incident took place in Natore city around noon on Thursday.
The injured child, Bayezid, was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The child’s father filed a case with Natore Sadar police station on Thursday night. Police arrested Shakil and his wife on Friday morning and produced them before a court.
Police and locals said Shakil, who is posted in Natore, lived with his wife and four-year-old daughter in a rented flat on the second floor of Bayezid’s family home.
What happened
A family picnic was organized at the house on Wednesday night, where Shakil’s daughter was also present.
The two children were playing when they got into a scuffle. The matter was settled by their families at the time.
However, Shakil allegedly remained angry over the incident.
The following afternoon, he allegedly took Bayezid to his flat by force. The child returned home crying a short while later with part of a finger on his right hand severed and bleeding.
The child told his mother that Shakil had placed his hand on a bedpost and cut his finger with a sickle used for chopping vegetables.
Bayezid’s mother, with help from neighbours, initially took him to Natore Sadar Hospital. He was later referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Dr Mahbur Rahman, resident medical officer at Natore Sadar Hospital, said the child was brought in with part of a finger on his right hand severed.
“After providing initial treatment, we referred him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital,” he said.
Bayezid’s father, who works at a bank, said Shakil had been renting a flat in their house and the two children regularly played together.
He said the scuffle during the family picnic was minor and had already been settled by the families.
“Yet the constable locked my son inside his flat and brutally injured him. I want justice for the incident,” he said.
Constable alleges sexual abuse
After the incident, Shakil left the rented flat and later made a verbal complaint to the office of the Natore superintendent of police against Bayezid.
He alleged that the child had sexually abused his daughter.
Shakil and his wife subsequently left the house with their daughter.
Police raid flat
After receiving information about the incident, police raided Shakil’s flat to verify what had happened.
The apartment was locked when police arrived. They later broke open the lock and entered the flat, where they found bloodstains on the floor and bed frame, according to police.
Police also found a severed portion of the child’s finger on the floor, they said.
The OC of Natore Sadar police station said Shakil’s family had not filed a written complaint over the alleged sexual abuse.
However, Shakil had verbally raised the allegation, the OC said.
Police are investigating the incident and the circumstances surrounding the constable’s actions, he added.
