Jhalakathi freedom fighter beaten dead by ‘Jubo League man’

A freedom fighter has been beaten to death allegedly by a union-level Jubo League leader in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi.

Hailing from Bhitabaria village in Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur, Abdus Salam Khan, 65, was a freedom fighter and a retired headmaster of a primary school.

He succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of yesterday, a day after he was brutally tortured and humiliated allegedly by a Jubo league leader, the youth front of ruling Awami League, our Jhalakathi correspondent reports quoting police.

Shamsul Alam Khan, son of the victim, alleged that his father was tortured by Shah Alam, president of Saturia union Jubo League unit, while he was returning home from the neighbouring village on Monday.

Shah Alam later took him to Amtola Bazaar in the upazila where a local union parishad member Mostafizur Rahman and his men beat freedom fighter Salam again, Shamsul added.

"The teacher was tortured in front of people but none dared to save him," a witness said seeking anonymity.

Sheikh Munirul Giash, officer-in-charge of Rajapur Police Station, confirmed the incident adding police were conducting drives to arrest alleged torturers Shah Alam and Mostafizur Rahman.

A case was filed with the local police station accusing the two and six others, the OC added.

The body was sent to Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.