Boy beaten to death on theft charge in Barguna

After the brutal murder of two teenagers in Sylhet and Khulna, now a 10-year-old madrasa boy has been beaten to death for 'stealing fish' at Amkhola village in Taltali upazila of Barguna district.

The deceased is Rabiul Awal, son of Dulal Mridha, and student of Class IV of Farazibari Dakhil Madrasa.

Following a case filed by Dulal, police arrested the prime accused, fisherman Miraj, 25, at his house yesterday, said Babul Akhter, officer-in-charge of Taltali Police Station.

“Neighbour Miraj used to catch fish in Lutrar Canal in the area. A few days ago, fishes were stolen from the canal. Miraj suspected Rabiul of stealing the fishes and threatened to kill him if he was found,” said the victim's father.

Rabiul went out of house on Tuesday evening and did not return home since then, he said, adding that locals found the body floating in the canal around 7:00am yesterday and informed the police.

The law enforcers rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent to Barguna General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Injury marks were found in the right eye of Rabiul, said Superintendent of Police Bijoy Bashak.

The victim's uncle Ripon Mridha alleged that Miraj beat up Rabiul mercilessly, leaving him dead on the spot.

Last month, 13-year-old Samiul Alam Rajon was beaten to death by brutes in Sylhet – an incident that triggered a wave of outrage throughout the country.

Another thirteen-year-old Rakib was tortured to death in Khulna on Tuesday as two men, including the victim's garage owner, inserted a high-pressure air pump nozzle into his rectum and filled the body with air.

In Natore, a teenager has been tied to a tree and beaten up in Boraigram upazila of the district for his alleged involvement in stealing, reports our correspondent.

The victim, Shakil Kazi, 14, was beaten up along with Abu Sama, 36, over suspicion of theft in a local grocery shop.

Local trader Bulbul Hossain had some goods stolen from his shop on Friday night, said local people.

On Sunday, Shakil and Abu Sama were caught on the theft charge. They were later tied to trees and beaten up allegedly under the instruction of one Rabiul Karim, a Saudi Arabia expatriate.

Contacted, Rabiul said, the two were punished in accordance with the 'social norms and culture' of the village.

OC Monirul Islam of Boraigram Police Station said he sent forces to the spot after he was informed of the incident.