Convict freed on ‘bribe’

Abul Kalam Kala of Syeem Takta village in Mehendiganj upzila of Barisal district was sentenced to life term imprisonment in 2000I n a double murder case.

He was tried in absentia as he fled to Dubai after the murders. Kala came to Bangladesh recently.

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Acting on a tip-off, Sub-Inspector Abdul Aziz and ASI Md. Hossain of Muladi police station arrested him from the house of his father-in-law Haider Mia at Kazir Char village early Monday.

But instead of taking him to police station, he was rushed to Muladi Upazila Health Complex and later released.

It has been alleged that police took a bribe of f Tk1, 10,000 from the convict.

Sheikh Zillur Rahman, OC of Muladi thana, admitted that Kala was arrested. He was arrested under Section 54 and taken to hospital as he fell sick in custody, he said.

Kala's guardians took him to their custody by giving a bond as police did not know about his life term conviction, the OC claimed.

But the OC failed to clarify why Kala was arrested under S54 and Mehendiganj police were not informed after his arrest.