Relatives clash with police outside Barisal station over alleged torture

Six people, including three police officers and three family members, have been seriously injured after violent clashes erupted outside Agailjhara Police Station in Barisal. The disturbance began on Thursday afternoon, 9 July, when angry relatives surrounded the station to protest against the alleged unlawful detention and overnight torture of a local youth, Riaz Fakir.

The situation rapidly deteriorated into physical confrontations between law enforcement personnel and demonstrators outside the compound. Riaz Fakir, the son of Siddiq Fakir from Fullashri village, had been taken into custody by local police on Wednesday evening. This sparked immediate concern from his family, who claim he was targeted under false pretences.

Opposing narratives over station violence

The injured police officers have been identified as Sub-Inspector Omar Faruq, Assistant Sub-Inspector Abdul Halim, and Constable Farhad. On the family’s side, those hospitalised include Riaz’s grandmother, Mamtaz Begum, his elder sister, Sharmin, and his uncle, Kanchan Fakir. Relatives have alleged that during the ensuing baton charge, the police targeted elderly demonstrators, resulting in Mamtaz Begum’s arm being broken.

According to Sushankar Mallik, the Inspector of Investigation at Agailjhara Police Station, a crowd of approximately 20 to 25 men and women suddenly converged on the main gates of the station in the afternoon. The officer claimed that the group initiated an unprovoked attack and vandalised police property. When officers attempted to intervene and secure the perimeter, the crowd reportedly turned on them, leading to the injury of the three officers.

Conversely, Riaz’s sister, Sharmin, offered a fundamentally different account of the encounter. She stated that the family had gone to the station peacefully to seek clarification regarding the grounds of Riaz’s detention and subsequent reports of physical abuse. Whilst demanding accountability outside the gates, she claimed the police launched an abrupt and aggressive baton charge. During the melee, their uncle, Kanchan Fakir, was reportedly struck so severely that he lost consciousness on the spot.

Allegations of custody torture and electric shocks

The youth’s father, Siddiq Fakir, explained that Riaz had left the house on Wednesday afternoon with money borrowed from his sister to repair a mobile phone. According to his account, officers intercepted Riaz near the local helipad area and arrested him on suspicion of possessing illegal narcotics.

Statement from the Father: “The police informed me of his arrest, and I went to the station that night to speak with him,” Siddiq Fakir stated. “My son told me clearly that they found absolutely no drugs on him, yet they dragged him to the station regardless.”

Siddiq Fakir further alleged that after he was dismissed from the station, officers subjected Riaz to brutal physical violence throughout the night, including the administration of electric shocks.

At approximately 2:30 am, five police officers, including the Inspector of Investigation, reportedly arrived at the family home, requesting that they accompany Riaz to a medical facility. The family was told that Riaz had intentionally struck his head against the cell bars and required urgent treatment. Suspicious of the timing, the family refused to go immediately. When they visited the hospital the following morning, they found Riaz completely unresponsive. His father questioned the official police narrative, pointing out that if his son had merely struck his head, it failed to explain the severe bruising and trauma visible across both of his legs.

Official police response regarding theft case

Defending the department’s actions, Inspector Sushankar Mallik clarified that Riaz Fakir has a prior record, with two active narcotics cases registered against him, though he is currently out on bail for both. The inspector maintained that Riaz was arrested at approximately 7:45 pm on Wednesday in the Fullashri area as a prime suspect in an ongoing gold theft case involving a local salon.

The police management categorically denied all allegations of torture or electric shocks. Inspector Mallik asserted that almost immediately after being placed in the holding cell at 9:00 pm, Riaz began repeatedly striking his head against the iron bars in a fit of agitation until he knocked himself unconscious. Police officials claimed the family was notified immediately but declined to come to the station.

Riaz was initially admitted to the Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex during the night. As his condition failed to stabilise, he was subsequently transferred to the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal for advanced treatment, where he remains under close medical supervision. Local authorities have announced that an internal review will investigate the operational conduct surrounding the incident.