BCL men allegedly torture youth, take nude photos, demand Tk2 lakh ransom

A group of Chhatra League activists on Sunday allegedly tortured a youth for five hours in a college dormitory room in Satkhira's Tala upazila, captured his nude pictures, and demanded Tk2 lakh ransom.  

The victim, Shoyeb Aziz Tonmoy, who has been preparing for university admission tests after securing Golden A+ in the HSC exam, was however recovered by his relatives in the evening and taken to Tala Hospital for treatment.

Victim's father Sheikh Azizur Rahman, a nursery businessman, filed a case with Tala Police Station over the incident on Monday.

"Five have been accused in the case. Besides, some 5-7 unnamed people were also mentioned," said Tala Police Station Inspector (investigation) Abul Kalam Azad. 

The main accused are: Syed Akib, 25, Soumitra Chakraborti, 32, JR Suman, 25, Joy, 24, Nahid Hossain Utsya, 24. "All the accused are absconding now. We are trying our best to arrest them as early as possible," the police official told The Business Standard. 

"The miscreants spoiled my son's life. Tonmoy had no beef with them. They are not even his classmates," said Azizur Rahman. 

He told TBS that accused Nahid Hasan Utsya, who Tonmoy was acquainted with, called Tonmoy over the phone at noon and told him to go to Tala Government College. Later, Utsya along with others took him to a dormitory room there and tortured him for five hours.

"They shaved my son's head and captured his nude pictures and then called my wife for Tk2 lakh ransom," Azizur added, saying the miscreants may have wanted to grab Tonmoy's newly-bought motorcycle.

Accused Akib is the organising secretary of the Tala upazila unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, while Soumitra holds the same post in the upazila unit of Sramik League. The rest are Chhatra League activists.

Victim Tonmoy said Akib tortured him the most. "I requested them to release me as I was fasting, but they did not listen to me," he added. "At one moment, my cousins came to rescue me. They were also hit."

The Business Standard tried to contact the accused over the phone, but they could not be reached. 

When contacted, Tala Government College Principal (in-charge) Professor Sheikh Md Humayun Kabir, Tala Upazila Chhatra League President Milon Roy, Satkhira District Chhatra League President Ashiqur Rahman said they were not aware of the matter.

"None informed us about the matter. However, if it really happened, it is condemnable," said Nazrul Islam, general secretary of Satkhira District Awami League. 

"I strongly protest such an incident. I will ask the district Chhatra League president and general secretary to take organisational proceedings against anyone involved," he said and called for a neutral probe into the incident.

Satkhira Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman said none would be spared and "all will be brought to justice."