Teenager 'beaten to death' over theft suspicion in Jatrabari; Woman arrested
Police have arrested a woman in connection with the death of a 17-year-old boy, who was allegedly beaten to death after being detained for nearly 16 hours on suspicion of theft in the capital's Jatrabari area.
The deceased, identified as Mohammad Bappi, was the son of Md Shahjahan of Nalbunia village under Sarankhola Police Station in Bagerhat. He had been residing in the Dholaipar area under Shyampur Police Station.
The arrestee was named as Fouzia Akter Preeti, who has been arrested in connection with the murder case filed by the victim's mother, said Asaduzzaman Jewel, deputy inspector of Jatrabari Police Station.
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According to the victim's elder brother, Parvez, a group of "local drug dealers" — identified as Kapsi Russel, Molla Shuvo, and Moyna Sakib — took Bappi from their house around 2:30am on Tuesday. Later, around 5:30am, they brought him back and accused him of stealing a Tk40,000 worth electricity card from a woman.
"They searched our house and beat him in front of my mother," Parvez said, adding that despite his mother's pleas to hand him over to police if he was guilty, the men ignored her and took him to Fouzia Akter Preeti's house, where he was allegedly detained and beaten further.
Bappi reportedly died while being taken to a hospital around 5:30pm on 12 November.
His mother later filed a case with Jatrabari Police Station against Fouzia Akter Preeti, the three named "drug dealers", one Enan, and several unidentified persons.
Police said the body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, and the exact cause of death will be confirmed after receiving the post-mortem report.
