Awami League Brahmanbaria unit General Secretary has allegedly beaten his neighbour to death in Kandipara area of the city on Friday.
The dead is Richhal Pathan, 24, son of local influential Yasin Pathan.
According to the family members of the victim, Awami League city unit General Secretary Rafiqul Islam, who is a neighbour to them, shared long term enmity with Richhal.
“Following previous enmity, Rafiqul and his associates attacked and killed my son in front of the Hawler’s Market in Khal Par area. They called him a hijacker and are trying to establish their act as an incident of ‘mob beating,’ by using political power,” said Yasin Pathan.
According to the witnesses, on Friday around 11:30am, screaming “hijacker hijacker!” some 20/22 people attacked Ricchal with lethal weapons leaving him seriously injured. Some locals later took him to the Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital.
Taposh Ranjan Ghosh, assistant superintendent of Brahmanbaria model police station, said police had recovered the dead body from the surgery unit of the hospital at night and sent it to the morgue for autopsy. The hospital authorities could not say who dropped him there or how he got the injuries.
Richhal died at 11pm on Friday while the autopsy was done in the morning yesterday, he said.
Sub-Inspector Abul Khayer said Richhal’s body contained marks of stabbing on forehead, right cheek, thumbs and right ankle. There were also several bruises and swelling found on his right leg.
Richhal’s mother Rahima Begum said: “Hearing the news I rushed to the spot and found Rafiq Miya and his associates including Helal, Bappa, and Niaz, stabbing my son mercilessly. When I tried to stop them they started beating me too.”
She alleged that Rafiq and his associates did not let her enter the hospital and the treatment was also not done properly. “I finally could enter the hospital around 11pm after hearing that Richhal was dead,” said Rahima.
Ricchal’s father has filed a murder case against 17 people including Rafiqul Islam in this connection with the Brahmanbaria model police station.
Since death of Richhal, Rafiq and his associates had not returned to their homes which were found locked from outside upon visit by this correspondent.
Rafiqul Islam could not be reached over mobile phone despite several attempts.
