Woman dies in Jessore police custody

A 40-year-old woman has died in police custody in Jessore, prompting her family to accuse the law enforcers of “brutally torturing” her following her arrest.

Afroza Begum, a resident of Nawapara of Abhaynagar upazila, died while being taken to Jessore General Hospital around 11:30am on Sunday.

However, the police claimed that the woman was arrested with yaba tablets and that she died of heart disease.

They said Afroza was arrested at her house in Nawapara village during a raid at around 1:30am on Sunday, and 30 pieces of yaba tablets were recovered from her possession.

After her arrest, she was in police custody. A case was filed against Afroza on Sunday morning with Abhaynagar police station under the Narcotics Control Act.

At around 8:20am, Afroza fell sick at the police station and was taken to Abhaynagar Upazila Health Complex for treatment. She was brought back to the police station afterwards.

Then around 10:30am she fell sick again and was taken to the upazila health complex.

The duty doctor suggested she be taken to Jessore General Hospital for better treatment.

However, after being taken there, the emergency department doctor of the hospital declared her dead.

Jessore General Hospital Emergency Department Medical Officer Hasib Md Ali Hasan said: “Afroza was brought to the hospital at 11:35am. She died before being brought here.”

“The body has been sent to the hospital morgue for post-mortem. The cause of death can be determined after receiving the post-mortem report,” he added.

What her family, police say

Afroza‍‍`s elder son, Munna Molla, said: "At the instigation of some locals, ASI Silon Ali, Shamsul Haque and Constable Rabeya Khanam came to our house after midnight. They arrested my mother along with the yaba tablets they had brought with them and tortured her.

“Police took Tk1.8 lakh and demanded another Tk2 lakh in bribe. They killed my mother by torturing her in police custody over that. I want justice for this incident,” he added.

ASI Silon Ali said Afroza’s family members are making false allegations.

“She died after being taken to Jessore General Hospital. The doctor said it was high blood pressure. Nothing unusual happened at the police station,” he added.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Abhaynagar Circle) Zahidul Islam said: "I heard that the woman died of heart disease. If there was any torture, it will be investigated.”