A 41-year-old man was beaten to death on suspicion of being a child thief at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, police said on Thursday.
The victim, identified as Md Alam Sheikh from Natore district, was assaulted late on Wednesday night and died on Thursday morning. Police have detained Mostafizur Rahman Ayon, identified as the main suspect in the killing.
According to police, Alam was wandering in front of the hospital’s children’s ward around 11pm on Wednesday when relatives of children undergoing treatment questioned his presence.
When he failed to answer their questions, the relatives suspected him of being a child thief, dragged him downstairs and severely beat him.
Police from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station rescued Alam after receiving a call through the National Emergency Service 999. His identity was later confirmed through fingerprint analysis.
Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Ibne Mizan said police conducted a drive following the killing and detained the main suspect.
He said the victim’s family had been informed and a case would be filed once they arrived.
Alam’s body has been kept at the hospital morgue. Police said it would be handed over to his family after an autopsy and completion of legal formalities.
