Pranto Chandra Dey, 21, dies in police custody in Mymensingh town on June 24, 2016, four hours into his detention. Photo: Star

An alleged drug peddler died in police custody last night, four hours into his detention with 15 pieces of Yaba tablets at Durgabari in Mymensingh town.

Pranto Chandra Dey, 21, son of Robi Chandra Dey of Mymensingh town's Golpukurpar area died of "heart attack", claimed Md Kamrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station.

On the other hand, his family alleged that Pranto Chandra might have been tortured to death by police, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.

Police however denied torturing Pranto in police custody, reports our Mymensingh correspondent quoting the police official.

Pranto dies of heart attack: Cops

Identifying Pranto as "an addict and drug peddler", the OC said he was detained last afternoon with 15 pieces of Yaba yablets in Durgabari area.

"He was also arrested on several occasions earlier," the police official claimed.

Police rushed him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) around 9:00pm when he fell ill in police custody, OC Kamrul said.

Dr Dilip Kumer Sarker, duty doctor of the hospital's emergency department, pronounced him "brought dead", said the department's office assistant Helal Uddin.

The body was handed over to his family from MMCH morgue this noon.  The autopsy report was still awaited till 1:30pm when the report was filed.

Family claims Pranto tortured to death

Family members and neighbours however said Pranto was not an addict or a drug trader.

Family members and neighbours are wailing over the death Pranto Chandra Dey who dies in police custody in Mymensingh town on June 24, 2016, four hours into his detention. Photo: Star

"Pranto was not an addict or involved in drug trading. He was totally fit and has no such complications like heart disease," said Mithu Chandra Dey, victim's elder brother.

The victim went out of the house around 5:00pm yesterday, he added, lamenting that their family was informed about his detention in the evening.

"When my aunty and younger sister went to the police station in the evening, they found Pranto lying unconscious on the floor at the police station," Mithu said.

Informed, the brother went to MMCH and found Pranto dead. "My brother might have been tortured to death," Mithu alleges demanding fair investigation into the death.