Allegation of beating youth to death against Ansar members baseless: Ansar

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party has claimed that the allegation of Ansar members beating a youth to death after detaining him on suspicion of theft at the office of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) in the capital’s Tejgaon is baseless.

The youth was detained around 7:30am on Tuesday morning. Later he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state where doctors declared him dead around 3:30pm. The deceased youth was around 25 years old. His identity could not be immediately ascertained. The body has been kept in the morgue for autopsy.

In a press release signed by Assistant Director and Public Relations Officer of Ansar Force Md Nazmus Sakib, it has been said that the news of involvement of incorporated Ansar members in the youth killing at the BTCL office in Tejgaon is baseless.

The press release said several youths entered the Tejgaon T&T cable warehouse area in the morning. At that time, duty Ansar member Shahjamal saw one youth stealing and chased him. At one stage of the chase, the youth fell down after the old tin roof broke. Later BTCL employee Md Shawkat Hossain detained him. Ansar members assisted in detaining him.

According to Ansar’s version, Platoon Commander Nurul Islam handed over the detained youth to BTCL’s PO Sultan Mahmud and electrician Saiful Islam. After that the Ansar members returned to their respective duty places. The force has claimed that there is no basis for the information that the youth was taken to the camp and tortured or beaten and that he died as a result.

However, BTCL office assistant Md Saiful claimed that three youths entered the office by climbing over the wall with the intention of theft in the morning. When officers and employees chased them, two fled. One was detained and handed over to Ansar members. According to him, the youth became seriously injured and unconscious due to the beating by Ansar members.

Local sources said two Ansar members perform duty at two posts of the BTCL office and another moves around the area with a stick. There is allegation that the youth was tied and beaten after being detained by chasing from two sides in the morning. Platoon Commander Nurul Islam was present there at the time of the incident.

Nurul Islam said not only Ansar members but also BTCL people beat the youth. He alleged that after catching a thief, BTCL authorities are often informed but they do not inform the police station.

In-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Camp Inspector Habibur Rahman said the youth was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state. Later doctors declared him dead. Efforts are underway to identify him.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman said the matter is being inquired into. After receiving the news, a police officer went to the spot.