Police have arrested a man in connection with the torture and death of a mentally challenged youth, who was allegedly beaten on suspicion of theft in Narail Sadar Upazila.
The arrested accused Akash Biswas, 25, son of Prabhash Biswas of Gobra Malopara in Narail Sadar, was arrested in the early hours of Friday from Narkelbariya in Jashore, police said.
The victim, Anwar Mollah, son of Kawsar Uddin Mollah of Sarkeldanga village under Banshgram Union, died on Thursday morning while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital after battling critical injuries for eight days.
His body was brought back to his village later that day and buried at the local graveyard following funeral prayers at a nearby madrasa.
The arrest came amid growing public outrage over the incident.
On Thursday evening, local residents brought out a protest procession from Banshgram Bazar, demanding the immediate arrest of all those involved and a speedy trial through a special tribunal.
The procession ended in front of Sarkeldanga Madrasa, near the victim’s home, where family members and local leaders addressed a protest meeting.
According to the case statement and police, Anwar left home on the morning of 24 June and went missing. Despite searching in different areas, his family could not trace him.
That night, he was allegedly detained by several people in Gobra Malopara on suspicion of theft, tied to a tree and subjected to hours of brutal assault that continued until the early hours of the next day.
Police rescued him on the morning of 25 June after receiving information about the incident and admitted him to Narail District Hospital.
As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where he died on 2 July.
Following his death, victim’s brother, Nabir Hossain, filed a murder case with Narail Sadar Police Station, naming five people as accused and several others as unidentified suspects.
Ajay Kumar Kundu, officer-in-charge (OC) of Narail Sadar Police Station, confirmed that Akash Biswas is the fourth accused in the case and had been absconding since the incident.
The OC said that the arrestee would be produced before the court shortly as the investigation continues to apprehend the remaining suspects
