A man was tortured to death allegedly by police at Barakpur in Dighalia upazila of the district on Monday night. Denying the allegation, Dighalia police said the man identified as Kesmat Ali, 50, fell ill after seeing them and died of cardiac arrest. Locals and family sources said sub-inspector of Dighalia Police Station Mominur Rahman aided by its constable Mahbub and local guard Makbul raided Kesmat’s house at Barakpur around 9:30 pm on Monday and arrested him. Later, police severely beat the arrestee with rifles and took him to local union parishad office. Immediately, Kesmat was taken to a pharmacy and then to Dighalia Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. On information, victim’s wife Nazma Begum on Tuesday morning rushed to the hospital to receive the lifeless body of her husband. Hospital sources said the victim received injuries to different parts of the body, including cheek and kidneys. Police said Kesmat who had been residing in Mumbai of India for the last 10 years came to the village barely 10 days ago. He had a dispute with a woman named Selina which might have led to his killing. M Robiul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dighalia PS, said Kesmat used to drink liquor and that he died of cardiac arrest after seeing police. The OC also said they were investigating the incident. On Tuesday morning, senior police officials visited Barakpur and ordered the arrest of Makbul and Selina. – UNB
