Day-laborer dies during DB drive, family alleges murder

A day-laborer named Milon Bepari (55) died during a drive by the Detective Branch (DB) of police in Jajira, Shariatpur. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm last Saturday in Kalu Bepari Kandi village of Naodoba union in the upazila. The family claims he died due to a beating by the DB. However, police say he died after falling to the ground and falling ill out of panic.

According to the detective police, local sources and victim sources, Sub-Inspector Nausher Ali and eight members of the district detective police conducted an anti-narcotics drive in the Jajira Padma Bridge area on Saturday night. During the drive, a man named Mozammel was detained with ganja. Later, based on his confession, a drive was conducted at the house of identified drug dealer Jamal Bepari in Kalu Bepari Kandi area.

At this time, the detective police claimed that Jamal's neighbor and maternal uncle Milon Bepari fell to the ground out of panic and died. However, the family alleges that he was called out of the house identifying as DB police and beaten up, causing him to fall to the ground ill. Later, when he was taken to the hospital, the doctor declared him dead. The deceased's wife Renu Begum alleged, "My husband was beaten after the house was searched at night identifying as DB. He died because of the beating. I want justice for my husband's murder."

Deceased's son Al-Amin said, "DB people beat my father in front of us. As a result of the beating, blood came out of his mouth and he died. DB people killed my father." Regarding this matter, Shariatpur Sadar Hospital RMO Akram Elahi said, "The body was brought on Saturday night. Necessary samples have been collected for autopsy. The actual cause of death will be known when the report arrives."

District Detective Branch Inspector Abu Bakar Matubber said, "During the drive at the house of identified drug dealer Jamal Bepari in the Padma Bridge area, his maternal uncle Milon Bepari fell to the ground out of panic while rushing over upon hearing the news. Later, when he fell ill, DB members told his family to take him to the hospital. We arrested the accused and brought them to the police station. Later we heard that he had died. However, the matter of DB beating is not true. Source: Samakal"