A 26-year-old man has died in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, after allegedly being tied to an electricity pole and repeatedly beaten by a group of people who suspected him of theft.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning at a house in Miyazir Para, in the East Fakiraghona area of Boromaheshkhali Union, according to Mohammad Abdus Sultan, officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali Police Station.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Faisal, son of Nurul Alam, a resident of the same area.
A video circulated on social media following the incident appears to show several young people assaulting Faisal while he was tied to an electricity pole. The footage also shows him being struck on the back with a brick. Police are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the assault and the people seen in the video as part of the legal process.
Faisal’s father, Nurul Alam, said he learnt about the incident after waking up following the Fajr prayer. He was told that his son had been beaten and taken to hospital.
“People came and told me that my son had been beaten and taken to hospital. When I went there, I found my son dead,” Nurul Alam said.
He said Faisal worked with him as a road labourer and had left home early that morning to find workers for a job.
Nurul Alam also questioned the allegation that his son had stolen anything. He said that if Faisal had committed theft, money, a mobile phone, gold or other valuables would have been found in his possession. According to the father, none of those items were recovered.
Police say man was detained over alleged theft attempt
Police said Faisal had been detained on suspicion of entering the house of Mawlana Kefayet Ullah and an adjoining steel furniture workshop in Miyazir Para with the intention of stealing.
According to Officer-in-Charge Abdus Sultan, Faisal was beaten after being detained and was tied to the electricity pole. The officer said Faisal may have died before he was taken to hospital and was declared dead after being brought there.
One young man from the house has been detained for questioning in connection with the assault, the officer said. Police are preparing to take legal action over the incident.
The officer also said police had received local information suggesting that Faisal had a habit of stealing. However, when asked whether Faisal had any previous case or police record related to theft, he said there was no such record.
The distinction is significant because the allegation that Faisal was suspected of theft had not, at the time of the report, resulted in any known criminal case against him.
Local chairman condemns the killing
Enayet Ullah Babul, chairman of Boromaheshkhali Union Parishad, said he had learnt that Faisal was detained and beaten after being suspected of entering the house to steal.
“Apparently, the boy went to the house to steal. He was caught on suspicion of theft and was beaten severely, after which he died,” the chairman said.
He also rejected the idea that an allegation of theft could justify such violence.
“No, no, no. He cannot be killed like that. Even if he committed theft, he cannot be beaten to death,” Babul said.
No case had been filed over the incident at the time of the report.
Faisal’s father said the body was taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination. After the examination, the family brought the body home.
Nurul Alam said the family would decide whether to file a case after the burial.
Police said they would take legal action after receiving a formal complaint from Faisal’s family. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances in which Faisal was detained, identify those involved in the assault and determine the events leading to his death.
The incident has also drawn attention to the dangers of taking punishment into private hands. A suspicion of theft can be investigated through lawful procedures, but the allegations against Faisal had not been established through a court process at the time of the report.
