Family claims victim had mental health issues; police detain two suspects for questioning
A 27-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death in multiple rounds of mob violence in Savar, after being accused of attempting to steal an auto-rickshaw.
The deceased was identified as Abul Khayer Patwari of Dasadi village under Kalyanpur union in Chandpur Sadar upazila.
The incident took place near Al Islam Garments in the Ulail area of Savar around 9:00 am on Monday.
Speaking to Media, the victim’s younger brother Shah Poran Patwari said his brother left their village home after Fajr prayers on Sunday and had been missing since then.
“My brother had mental health issues. We searched for him throughout the day as he did not return home. Monday night, Savar Model Police Station informed us that his body had been recovered from a hospital. When we arrived at the police station this morning, we saw multiple injury marks on his body,” he said.
Md Khorshed Khan, a ward member of Kalyanpur union parishad, told Media over the phone that Abul Khayer was from an extremely poor family and was mentally unstable.
“As far as we know, several members of the family also have mental health issues. They survive with support from the community, including assistance from us,” he said.
According to witnesses, Abul Khayer was first detained around 9:00am on Monday from behind Al Islam Garments after being suspected of trying to steal an auto-rickshaw. He was allegedly beaten there until around 11:00am.
He was later taken to an auto-rickshaw garage owned by Nuruzzaman, where he was allegedly assaulted again. Around 1:00pm, Nuruzzaman, with the help of another auto-rickshaw driver, took Abul Khayer to Savar Upazila Health Complex and left him there before fleeing.
Nuruzzaman denied assaulting the victim, saying his auto-rickshaw was being driven by another man named Shubho when locals and the driver caught Abul Khayer on suspicion of theft.
“The man was brought to my garage, where other drivers beat him again. I did not assault him. I am a heart patient. Later, I took the injured man to the hospital with the help of another driver,” he claimed.
Dr Kamrunnahar, an emergency physician at Savar Upazila Health Complex, said two men brought an unconscious man to the hospital by auto-rickshaw around 1:00pm on Monday before leaving the scene.
“He was already dead when he was brought in. There were multiple injury marks on different parts of his body. We later informed the police and handed over the body,” she said.
Ismail Hossain, sub-inspector of Savar Model Police Station, who recovered the body, said multiple injury marks were found during the inquest.
“I have heard that two men left him at the hospital and fled,” he said, adding that SI Rafiqul Islam is investigating the murder.
Nur Mohammad, inspector (Investigation) of Savar Model Police Station, told Media that auto-rickshaw driver Shobuj alias Shubho and garage owner Nuruzzaman are in police custody in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, the victim’s brother later filed a case with Savar Model Police Station, but the first information report (FIR) did not mention that his brother had any mental illness.
Asked about claims by the victim’s family and neighbours that the victim had a mental health condition, Inspector Nur Mohammad said, “They made the same claim to us as well. However, they were unable to produce any medical records or documents to support it.”