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The death of auto-rickshaw driver Shahadat Hossain Mukul — arrested as a suspected accused in a murder case — has triggered allegations of extortion and torture against several members of the Detective Branch police in Sirajganj. 

Mukul’s family claims that a group of corrupt DB officers brutally beat him to death after failing to extort money. They term the death a clear case of ‘custodial murder’.

On Saturday morning, an autopsy was performed on the victim at the forensic department of Sirajganj Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College Hospital by physicians Abdullah Hil Kafi, Rokon-uz-Zaman, and Shubho.

Later, police handed over the body to Mukul’s elder brother, Jahurul Islam, and his son, Naeem Sheikh. Inspector (Investigation) Ahsanuzzaman and SI Abu Sayeed were present during the handover.

Before receiving the body, Jahurul Islam told the media that Mukul had travelled to Ullapara with passengers on Thursday afternoon. Ullapara police arrested him on suspicion of involvement in a murder case and, later, handed over to the DB.

Jahurul said that on Thursday night they went to the DB office, where SI Nazmul Haque Raton demanded Tk 5 lakh to release Mukul.

When the family refused, the police allegedly beat Mukul severely in front of them. The family later agreed to pay Tk 3 lakh, but the officers rejected it and drove them out of the office.

According to Jahurul, Mukul was tortured throughout the night and died in the next morning. Sirajganj General Hospital emergency doctor Hemadri Shekhar Saha confirmed that there were injury marks on Mukul’s fingers.

Mukul further alleged that the DB police attempted to cover up the incident by admitting Mukul to Sirajganj General Hospital as a victim of ‘public assault’ on Friday afternoon.

‘The CCTV footage of Ullapara Police Station, the General hospital, and the SP office will reveal the truth,’ he added. The family plans to file a case after the funeral.

Sirajganj DB’s newly appointed OC, Abu Bakar Siddique, said that he had already informed the higher authorities about the ‘unexpected incident’.

A departmental investigation is underway against SI Nazmul, and necessary action may be taken once the police superintendent returns from leave.

Ullapara Police Station’s OC Ekramul Haque said, ‘Mukul was a suspect in the murder of auto-rickshaw driver Aminul on 12 November. DB officers apprehended him on Thursday in Ullapara but did not hand him over to the station.’

Additional Superintendent of Police (administration) Md Mahbubur Rahman said that a probe committee, led by Additional Superintendent of Police (crime) Hafizur Rahman, has been formed and instructed to submit a report within 14 working days.

Regarding the temporary suspension of SI Nazmul, he noted that the decision rests with the police superintendent.

However, SI Nazmul, the accused officer, said, ‘My promotion exam is very near. Whatever mistakes were made, I request journalists to consider my situation and not file reports against me on humanitarian grounds.’

Earlier on Friday, Moktar Hossain, 40, died while in the custody of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. He was detained Thursday evening over the November 17 murder of the Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal leader Golam Kibria in the capital’s Pallabi area.