Drug-addicted attackers beat police SI to death: RAB

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said the accused were drug-addicted when they beat to death police’s Special Branch (SB), Sub-Inspector (SI) Altab Hossain, 58, in Savar, Dhaka.

RAB-10 Commander Additional DIG Md Asaduzzaman confirmed the matter on Monday at a press conference held at the RAB Media Center in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

Asaduzzaman said, “This is an isolated incident. The accused were all drug-addicted at the time of the incident. Seeing an elderly man being beaten in a garage, Altab protested there. Angry at this, the accused attacked him.”

On Saturday, Altab was beaten to death in Aminbazar. Altab protested when an auto-rickshaw garage owner was beaten by the driver of a private car and several associates over a parking dispute.

At this point, an altercation ensued between Altab and the individuals assaulting the garage owner. Seeing the situation escalate, Altab disclosed his identity. However, this made the suspects even more reckless.

To save his life, Altab ran and took shelter inside his son’s garment factory, but the attackers chased him there. They called 15-20 more associates, broke the factory gate, and forced their way inside.

RAB added that the attackers then beat Altab and his son Ariful with weapons and sticks. During the attack, they also vandalized machines and furniture inside the factory. Locals rescued them in critical condition and rushed them to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, where the duty doctor declared Altab dead.

Following the incident, his wife filed a murder case at Savar Model Police Station, naming 15 individuals. So far, nine people have been arrested, including eight by RAB and one by the police.

RAB-10 arrested four suspects from the Munshiganj Launch Terminal area, while RAB-4 arrested four from Aminbazar. The arrested suspects are Alauddin, Apon, Jihad, Imran, Nur Mohammad Rudra, Rakib Mia, Sabbir Ahmmed, and Md Wasim.

Prior to this, Dhaka District Police arrested the prime suspect, Jahirul. RAB-10 Commander said Apon is the leader of a teen gang and a drug supplier who faces three cases at different police stations. During the incident, Apon struck Altab on the head with an SS pipe, while Jihad severely wounded him with a knife.