A 32-year-old man with mental disabilities died at Khulna Medical College Hospital early Thursday, eight days after being tied to a tree and tortured by a group who suspected him of theft in Narail Sadar.
The victim, Anwar Hosen, was a resident of Banshgram in Narail Sadar upazila and a son of Kaushir Molla. His elder brother Nobir Hosen filed a case at Narail Sadar police station on June 29 naming five accused along with several unidentified individuals. The case will now be upgraded to a murder case, Narail Sadar police station officer-in-charge Ajay Kumar Kundu said.
According to the FIR, the victim had a mental disability and left home around 9 a.m. on June 24. When he did not return that night, family members searched for him. The following morning, they found him injured at the district hospital.
The FIR stated that Prosenjit Biswas, Sourav Biswas, Apurbo Biswas, Akash Biswas, Hriday Biswas, and others from Gobra Malopara in Narail Sadar tied the victim to a tree near Prosenjit’s house overnight and beat him on suspicion of theft.
The FIR further stated that Prosenjit attempted to strangle the victim by wrapping a towel around his neck. Others struck him with an iron rod, causing severe injuries and swelling across his body. On June 25, after the incident became known, police recovered the victim and admitted him to the district hospital. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to Khulna Medical College Hospital on Monday.
His brother Nobir Hosen said the victim frequently wandered away from home due to his mental condition. “The accused beat my brother on suspicion of theft. Despite all efforts, I could not save him. I demand the swift arrest and trial of those involved,” he said.
He added that the five accused — all from Gobra Malopara — have been named in the complaint. All have been absconding since the incident, and their statements could not be obtained.
However, one of the accused’s mother claimed her son had taken the victim to the hospital and denied knowledge of who beat him.
The officer-in-charge said a case had already been filed and would now be converted to a murder case. “We are continuing efforts to arrest the accused,” he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report