A man was allegedly killed by police brutality on Saturday morning in Uttarkhan of Dhaka.
The deceased was identified as Moniruzzaman Hawladar Monir, 50, of Chamorkhan area under Uttarkhan police station.
His brother alleges he was beaten to death by police.
Uttarkhan police station OC Helal Uddin said: “Police raided the house upon receiving a complaint regarding five people being held hostage and Tk1 lakh being demanded as ransom. Moniruzzaman might have had a stroke during the raid.”
The dead body has been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for post mortem.
Moniruzzaman’s elder brother Md Jakir Hawladar said: “Police entered our house and dragged my brother to the third floor of the building while beating him mercilessly.
“He (Moniruzzaman) lost consciousness at one point and was taken to Crescent Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead,” he added.
Jakir also said: “My brother was not a convict; he died as a result of police brutality.”
About how the incident took place he said: “Moniruzzaman arranged the marriage of his neighbour’s daughter with his uncle-in-law’s son Jahirul Islam, who was also a tenant in his building. The wedding was to be held on the building’s rooftop on Friday.
“On the day of the wedding, a boy named Sohel arrived and told the girl’s parents that he had been in a romantic relationship with the girl for the last five years and pleaded with them not to marry her off to someone else.
“After consulting with everyone it was decided that the girl would get married to Sohel on Saturday. It was also decided that Sohel’s family would repay the amount (Tk1 lakh) spent by the would-be groom’s family for arranging the wedding.”
Jakir said: “Sohel along with his sister, who arrived later with her husband, agreed to pay the amount and stayed back at our house as the wedding was only the next day.”
However, OC Helal Uddin said, Sohel’s uncle Abu Taher, fearing Sohel and his family had been threatened by locals and had been kept against their will, filed a case accusing three people along with 4-5 unidentified others, but there was no complaint against Moniruzzaman.
Police detained three of the accused, including the groom's brother Raihan, his cousin Rashedul and their friend Rajib.
Sohel’s family could not be contacted as of now.
