Chased by police, farmer drowns

A farmer drowned in a pond after being chased by police near Hetnar Hat area under Bheduria union of Sadar upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Abu Jamal, 45, son of Md Shajahan of Char Ramesh village of the upazila.

Two policemen were suspended after the incident.

According to locals, like other days, Jamal and some farmers were drying paddy on Bheduria road at around 7:30 am when two policeman -- Abdul Hannan and Mainul -- of Bhelumia police camp asked Jamal why he was illegally drying paddy on the road.

An altercation took place between the farmers and the cops. At one stage, Abdul Hannan beat up Jamal with his baton. When Jamal fled from there to save himself, he was chased by the policemen, who threw the baton at him. 

Later, local people found Jamal's body in the pond and took him to the Sadar hospital, where the doctor declared him dead.

Sarwar Uddin, chairman of Bheduria Upazila Parishad, said that there was a deep crack on the back of Jamal's head.

Mobassir Ali, officer-in-charge of Bhola Sadar Police Station (OC), said Jamal might have run into a roadside tree while trying to flee before he fell into the pond.

The two police constables were suspended temporarily by order of Md Moniruzzaman, superintendent of police in Bhola, he added.