Police, locals clash in Barishal's Agailjhara over rumour of detainee's death in custody; 12 injured
The incident followed a rumour about the death of a theft case accused in custody, with police saying he injured himself in the lockup and locals alleging police assault.
At least 12 people, including six police personnel, were injured in a clash between police and locals in Barishal's Agailjhara Upazila today (9 July) after a rumour spread that an accused in a theft case had died in custody.
The incident occurred at Agailjhara Police Station this afternoon.
According to police station sources, a team arrested Riaz Fakir, son of Md Siddiq Fakir of Fullashree village under Bakal Union, in a theft case yesterday evening. A rumour spread in the area today that Riaz had died. Following this, more than a hundred locals marched to the police station and entered the compound.
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Locals alleged that police personnel then charged at the demonstrators with bamboo sticks and batons, leaving six people injured, including Riaz's mother Nasrin Begum, 50, and sister Sharmin Akter, 28.
CCTV footage from the police station, obtained by this correspondent, shows Riaz, wearing a green T-shirt, entering the lockup and hitting his head against the iron gate before falling unconscious.
When contacted, Agailjhara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Masud Khan said police arrested Riaz in connection with a theft case.
"He [Riaz] injured himself by repeatedly hitting his head while in the lockup last night and fell unconscious. We first took him to Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex around 11:00pm. He was later shifted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal," he said.
The OC further said that Riaz's relatives and more than a hundred locals attacked the police station and assaulted the station's duty officer, ASI Abdul Halim, and constables Limon Mia, Farhad Hossain, Monir Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, and Mehedi Hasan.
"Additional police personnel have been deployed from Barishal to bring the situation under control. Legal action will be taken against those involved in the attack on the police station," he added.
Riaz's mother, Nasrin Begum, alleged that police picked up her son from the street without any reason and assaulted him, leaving him critically injured.
"He [Riaz] was undergoing treatment at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. We do not know whether he is alive," she said.
