Four police officers have been suspended and three others withdrawn from duty in Sylhet following the death of a man in their custody after he was allegedly tortured.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police’s (SMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Jyortimoy Sarkar confirmed on Monday that SMP took the step following protocol and an order from Police Headquarters.
The seven officers are Sub-Inspector (SI) Akbar Bhuiyan, the in-charge of the city’s Bandarbazar police outpost, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI) Touhid Mia, Ashik Elahi and Kutub Ali, and Constables Titu Chandra Das, Harunur Rashid and Shajib Hossain.
Jyortimoy said SMP Deputy Commissioner (North) Ajbahar Ali Sheikh was given charge to investigate the incident.
A police source said another round of investigation was also underway into the seven policemen who were now in the spotlight for Rayhan Ahmed’s death.
Relatives say Rayhan, 34, who lived in the city’s Akhalia Neharipara with his family, was severely beaten by policemen at that outpost after he was detained.
He died from his injuries at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in the early hours of Sunday.
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However, police denied the allegation, claiming they found Rayhan in a wounded state in Kashtoghar area following a reported clash and had taken him to the hospital before he died.
Despite their claim, Nazrul Islam Munim, ward councillor of Sylhet City Corporation's 14th ward, said that CCTV camera footage of the area did not confirm any such incident.
Police also claimed that Rayhan was accused in two cases filed over drugs and mugging charges.
Meanwhile, Rayhan’s wife Tanni, in the early hours of Monday, started a case at Kotwali police station against several unknown people.
Locals of Akhalia Neharipara demonstrated on Sunday and Monday, demanding justice for Rayhan, who worked at a diagnostic centre in the city.
They, however, before ending Monday afternoon’s protest following police assurance, also issued an 72-hour ultimatum to arrest those involved in Rayha’s death.
Rayhan’s uncle Habibullah, on Sunday, said he was told by officers of Bandarbazar outpost to bring Tk10,000 when he went to ask about his nephew.
When he went back with money, he was told to go to the hospital where he found Rayhan dead.
Upon reaching the hospital morgue, Habibullah found Rayhan's body kept in the morgue.
He claimed there were bruises on various parts of Rayhan’s body, including the soles of his feet and behind the knees. His fingernails had also been removed.
Habibullah also alleged that the police tortured and killed Rayhan inside the outpost -- which police have rejected.
