Man beaten to death on suspicion of theft in Bogura

A 29-year-old man was beaten to death on suspicion of theft in Bogura Sadar upazila early today, with allegations that the sons of a union parishad member were involved in the assault.

The deceased was identified as Shamim Hossain of Choumohuni area in Nishindara Union.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The incident occurred after 2:30am at Baropur Uttarpara and later at the Nishindara union parishad office, according to police and witnesses.

Shamim’s wife Romana Begum, 26, said her husband worked in the scrap metal business and occasionally drove a rickshaw.

She said Shamim went outside for a walk after Fajr prayer and around 5:00am the family learned that he was being beaten at the UP office.

“He was released around 5:30am and taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” she said.

Romana alleged that Ward 5 UP member ABM Shafiqur Rahman, his two sons and several others caught and beat Shamim on suspicion of theft.

However, Gobinda Chandra Das, a village police member on duty at the union parishad, said Shafiqur called him around 3:00am and told him that a suspected thief had been caught.

About 30 minutes later, five to seven people, including Shafiqur’s two sons and a man named Manik, brought Shamim to the union parishad office, Gobinda said.

“There were injury marks on both his legs, and his feet were bleeding,” he said.

Shafiqur denied the allegations, saying he was bedridden after a motorcycle accident on Saturday. He said two men, Milon and Aanu, called him around 2:58am and said they had detained a man for allegedly stealing wire from a deep tube well.

He said he sent his two sons after being asked for help but instructed them not to beat Shamim.

“Those who detained him did not listen to me. They beat the thief. Now an attempt is being made to frame my sons,” he said.

Shamim’s father Abdul Kuddus alleged that his son’s leg tendon had been severed during the beating. However, Bogura Sadar Police Station OC Ibrahim Ali said the tendon was not severed, although Shamim had injuries all over his body and a bleeding wound on his right leg.

Police have collected CCTV footage and the names of several people allegedly involved, the OC said.

“After the victim’s family files a complaint, all information will be verified and legal action will be taken against those involved,” he said.

Shamim’s body has been kept at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for autopsy, he added.