The Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police last night arrested two police officials in connection with the death of a businessman in police custody on June 19.
The arrestees are SI Amir Hossain and constable Moslem Uddin of Panchlaish police station. Abu Jafor Mohammad Omar Faruk, OC of the police station, said the two had been kept at the DB office following their arrest in the city around 8pm.
Md Rokunuzzaman, 45, a housing businessman, died after he had been picked up from his residence on Syed Shah Road in the city’s Bakalia area. A police team led by Amir detained him claiming that the victim had been accused in a rape case filed on June 5 with the same police station.
Later the family was informed that Rokunuzzaman’s body was kept in Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said his wife Shimu Akhter. She alleged that her husband had been beaten to death in the police vehicle.
Harunur Rashid, cousin of the deceased, claimed that the police members and source Jamal had kicked and beat Rokunuzzaman after entering the house.
Refuting the allegation, police claimed that Rokunuzzaman fell sick during the arrest as he had been a patient of diabetes and high blood pressure. An unnatural death case was lodged with Panchlaish police station. Jamal was arrested following the incident.
On June 25, Shimu lodged a murder case with a Chittagong court accusing SI Amir, Assistant Sub-Inspector Enayet Hossain of Bakalia police station and eight others.
Taking the case into cognisance, the court ordered the DB deputy commissioner of DB police to investigate the matter and submit a report within July 23. It also ordered the DB official to seize evidences, record statements of witnesses under section 161 and if necessary, conduct further post mortem examination.
“According to the autopsy report, Rokunuzzaman was beaten before his death. The arrests were made after getting the report,” Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Banaz Kumar Majumder said.
