The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Cox's Bazar

At least 15 people, including the OC of Chakaria thana, were injured in a clash between local people and police yesterday morning over the death of a farmer due to torture allegedly by police.

Angered by the death of farmer Sirajul Islam, 52, local people laid a siege to Chakaria thana in the morning, triggering a chase and counter chase.

Witnesses said the angry people also threw brickbats on policemen during the chase and counter chase that continued for about 4 hours, injuring the 15 people.

Locals alleged that Shah Alam, a manpower agent,

took Tk 3 lakh from two youths-Nurul Amin, Sirajul's son, and his friend Kafiluddin- three years ago with a promise to send them to Malaysia.

As Shah Alam failed to make arrangements to send the youths to Malaysia, they demanded immediate return of their money.

On May 12, the youths caught Shah Alam and handed him over to the local UP chairman. Chakaria thana police later sat in an arbitration meeting Wednesday night to resolve the matter.

Locals alleged that SI Hafiz beat up the two youths mercilessly at one stage of altercation. As Sirajul Islam stood in protest, the SI also beat up him with his rifle, they said.

Sirajul was first taken to Chakaria hospital and then was being moved to Chittagong Thursday midnight. But he died on the way.

Sirajul's son Mohammad Kalu later filed a murder case with Chakaria judicial court against Chakaria thana OC Ruhul Amin Siddique, SI Hafiz and manpower agent Shah Alam.

When contacted, Cox's Bazar additional police super Imam Hossain said the death of the farmer in police torture is false as there was no mark of torture on his body as per the postmortem and spot reports.