A man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in police custody this morning, hours after he was picked up and taken to Chittagong Kotwali Police Station for "attempting to loot money".

The victim is Ishak Mia, 50, son of Jalal Ahmed, a resident of Shikalbaha village in Patiya upazila of Chittagong, reports our correspondent quoting Sub-inspector Jahirul Islam, in-charge of Chittagong Medical College Hospital police camp.

Ishak hanged himself from the ventilator of the police station's toilet with his shirt, Jasimuddin, officer-in-charge of the police station, told The Daily Star.     

The victim had been working as a security guard at an office, which is an agent of food and beverage companies.

"Police picked him up for his attempt to steal money by breaking the office's cashbox last night," the OC said.

Ishaq was taken to the police station around 11:00pm yesterday, the OC said.

Police recovered his hanging body around 9:10am today and sent to the CMCH for autopsy.