A 29-year-old rickshaw puller, who was beaten over allegations of theft, died from his injuries on Saturday afternoon.
Hasanur Rahman, son of late Ashraf Ali, passed away at his home in the Mirzarkot area of Patgram Municipality in Lalmonirhat, said Ashrafuzzaman Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Patgram Police Station.
He had been severely beaten on November 11 after being accused of stealing a battery, according to locals and family members.
The incident occurred when an IPS battery belonging to Yunus Ali of the Thakur Bari area in Ward 6 was found in Hasanur’s rickshaw. Suspecting theft, Yunus Ali’s sons and relatives reportedly detained Hasanur and beat him, they said.
Hasanur was initially taken to a local private hospital in critical condition before being brought back home. Despite receiving treatment, he succumbed to his injuries four days later.
After his death, Hasanur’s family and locals protested in front of Yunus Ali’s house and his sons’ businesses on Saturday afternoon. The accused reportedly fled the scene, closing their shops to avoid confrontation.
Hasanur’s younger brother, Anisur Rahman, claimed that someone had unknowingly placed the battery in his brother’s rickshaw. “While bringing it back, my brother was falsely accused of theft and brutally beaten by Yunus` sons and others. I demand justice for my brother’s murder,” he said.
No formal complaint had been filed yet. “We will take appropriate legal action once the victim’s family files a case,” said the OC.
