The family of Sujon Howlader, who was accused of making an attempt to rape in Barishal city and was later lynched, alleged that Sujon was killed as they failed to pay the money demanded by some locals to ensure his safety.
Sujon鈥檚 parents at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on March 15 night alleged that a local named Bachchu and his associates beat Sujon to death.
The victim鈥檚 father, Monir Hossain, said that on March 14 people from the neighbouring house complained that his son had attempted to rape a four-year-old child.
Although police arrived at the scene on that day, the victim鈥檚 family did not file聽 a complaint in this connection with the police station until March 15 afternoon, he said.
鈥楬owever, on Friday night (March 14), Bachchu, a shopkeeper in the area, demanded Tk聽50,000 to mediate the attempted rape case. When I told him that I didn鈥檛 have that amount of money, Bachchu then said they could not guarantee Sujan鈥簊 security,鈥� said Monir.
The deceased鈥簊 mother, Manju Begum, said that at about 2:00pm on March 15, Bachchu told her to give him Tk聽20,000.
As she could not give the money, Bachchu at about 4:00pm grabbed her daughter, beat her and threw her into toilet, Manju alleged.
She added that Bachchu along with his son Ayub Munshi, his brother Saddam, and local goons tied Sujon to trees and beat him.
Rubel Howlader, elder brother of the deceased, said that Sujon used to associate with the troublemakers in the area and sell drugs.
A staff on duty at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital said that signs of brutal torture were evident on Sujon鈥簊 body, including crushed testicles.
Barishal Metropolitan Kotwali police station sub-inspector Miraj Hossain said upon receiving call through 999, police rescued Sujan Saturday evening, and brought him to the hospital where he was later declared dead.聽
No case was lodged in this connection until the filling of this report at about 7:00pm.
