Informant killed despite bribing cops!
A former police informant was killed in what the law enforcement claims to be gunfight between its members and criminals in Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka early Sunday.
The police now say Rezaul Islam alias Beshti Rony, 28, was a drug peddler, but his family claimed they had paid the policemen an extortion of Tk 800,000 for his release.
At first, the Gazipur detective branch (DB) police took Tk 300,000, saying he would be released. And the officers at Tongi police station took Tk 500,000 on Monday morning, the moment he was already dead, alleged Rezaul's family.
The police have, however, denied the allegations. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Tongi police station Kamal Hossain said the law enforcement arrested Rezaul in a drive in Ershadnagar area on Sunday night. As their drives continued, the law enforcement came under attack from 15-20 cohorts of Rezaul in Nimtali area around 3:15am, according to the police claim. Rezaul was shot in the ensuing crossfire, claimed the law enforcement.
Hasanuzzaman, an inspector of Tongi police, said there were 14 cases againt Rezaul, including eight for drug peddling and four for murder.
Rezaul's mother Rina Parvin alleged that the DB had picked her son up from Ershadnagar area around 2:00pm on Saturday. In the evening, sub-inspector (SI) Achintya Babu of DB called them and said Rezaul will be set free if he is paid Tk 2 million.
When they failed to arrange such a big amount, his mother and aunt along with other relatives visited the Gazipur DB office Sunday noon. Achintya took Tk 300,000 and promised Rezaul's family that he would be set free. The policeman also made them sign a blank paper.
When this correspondent called the SI, he snapped the line learning that the caller was a journalist. He did not pick up the phone despite 6-7 more attempts. Gazipur DB OC Amir Hossain said he had no knowledge about the incident. "It is not authentic," he said.
Rina said DB released Rezaul on Sunday noon, but Tongi police's SI Md Abu Bakar Siddiq arrested him from the DB office gate. Blindfolded, he was forced into a police vehicle. His father went to Tongi police station in the evening and now Abu Bakar demanded Tk 800,000 for his release.
Rezaul's father on Monday morning handed Abu Bakar the money, only to learn of his son's death when he returned home.
"I sent his father with the money so that they keep him alive. Now I have lost my son, and the money, too," said a tearful Rina Parvin.
When contacted, Abu Bakar denied the allegation of taking money. He said Rezaul had 14 cases against his name and they arrested him on Sunday night.
"We learnt from him that some other drug peddlers were there in Nimtali. They opened fire and we had to retaliate. Rezaul died in this crossfire. Now his family may say whatever they feel like," said the policeman. This police version of the event was, however, not verified independently.
Rezaul's neighbours did say he was a DB informant.