Rickshaw puller beaten to death in Rangpur, policeman among 2 held

A physically challenged rickshaw puller has been beaten to death, allegedly by a policeman, in Rangpur city.

The incident was followed by a massive protest by an angry mob in the city on Wednesday afternoon. The protesting people vented their anger and demanded justice for the deceased.

In face of the protest, law enforcement arrested the accused policeman and his wife in the evening. 

Altaf Hossain, assistant commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police, confirmed the information to The Business Standard.

The deceased was identified as Nazmul Hossain, hailing from Gaibandha.

The 30-year-old youth, a resident of Eidgah Para of the city, had been earning his bread and butter by pulling a rickshaw owned by Hasan Ali, a police constable stationed at Rangpur Police Training Center. 

Sources said the incident took place on Tuesday night when Nazmul allegedly brawled with Hasan Ali over a minor matter at Court Para of the city on Tuesday night.

Hasan allegedly beat the rickshaw puller mercilessly, resulting in Nazmul's death.

However, Hasan framed the incident as a suicide case. He informed others that Nazmul committed suicide by hanging himself.  

When the incident came to fore on Wednesday afternoon, an angry mob staged a massive demonstration in the city demanding justice for the deceased.

They blocked Rangpur-Kurigram Highway and set tyres on fire there, stopping vehicular movement on the road for around an hour.

Later, senior police officials along with additional policemen went to the spot and brought the situation under control around 6pm.

Meanwhile, the deceased's wife filed a murder case with Tajhat Police Station accusing Hasan Ali and his wife Shathi Begum.

Police arrested the duo at their residence.