Arrestee’s ‘suicide’ in Rangpur police custody sparks unrest; family allege otherwise
Police had to fire rubber bullets and use tear shells to bring the situation under control, that left at least 20 people injured
An elderly man is said to have killed himself at a police outpost in Pirganj upazila on Wednesday. Responding to the incident, five policemen were withdrawn to the district police lines.
The deceased was identified as Shamsul Haque, 60, of Shantipur Village in Mithapurkur upazila.
Saresh Chandra, officer-in-charge of Pirganj Police Station, said a police team of Bhendabari Police Outpost arrested Shamsul along with locally-made liquor from Baradargah area of Pirganj around 9pm on Tuesday.
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"He was found hanging from the window grill in the next morning," claimed the OC.
But Shamsul's daughter Shantona has alleged that her father was tortured to death at the police outpost. She also alleged that police members had demanded TK1 lakh bribe from her father.
"As he refused, they implicated him with liquor business and tortured him, leading to his death," added the daughter.
As news of the incident spread, locals staged demonstrations and besieged the police outpost.
Police had to fire rubber bullets and use tear shells to bring the situation under control, that left at least 20 people injured.
Maruf Hossain, additional superintendent of Rangpur police, said additional police members have been deployed to the area.
Biplob Kumar Sarkar, superintendent of Rangpur police, said a three-member probe body has been formed to investigate the incident of Shamsul's death in police custody.
The five policemen were withdrawn to the district police lines including Sub-Inspector Aminul, who was in-charge of the outpost, Sarkar added.
