A clash ensued between two groups of people of the Bihari community following the death of a youth at police custody in the capital’s area of Pallabi on Sunday.
The deceased was one Md Johnny, 25, a local embroidery worker. He was arrested along with four other individuals following a clash between two groups of people from Irani Camp and Rahmat Camp in Pallabi at 2:30am.
Following the altercation, Johnny was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition before he succumbed to his injuries by 10am.
Md Ziauzzaman, officer-in-charge of Pallabi police station, said Johnny had sustained severe injuries during the clash.
According to sources from the DMCH, Johnny's body bore visible marks of injury at various spots.
Johnny’s family members, however, allege that he was killed in police torture.
Johnny’s brother-in-law Mir Morshed Ali said: “Johnny had gotten himself locked in a brawl with a policeman, who was from Rahamat Camp, during a wedding party. Police arrested him along with some other young Irani Camp men and tortured them on the basis of their informer's demands.
While being tortured, Jony fell sick and died at DMCH,” he added.
Following news of his death, a group of people from the Bihari community at Irani Camp took position outside the police station protesting the “killing” and demanded the immediate release of all the other detainees.
It wasn't long before another group of people of the Bihari community from Rahamat Camp arrived their and engaged in an altercation with the Irani Camp people.
The situation calmed down after the police intervened at 1:30pm.
The OC said: “Bihari community people from Irani Camp and Rahamat Camp locked into a clash outside the police station following the death of a youth. Police later managed to bring the situation under control.”
Tension around the area was thick till the report had been filed around 3pm.
