Swechchhasebok League man dies during Rab raid
A local leader of Swechchhasebok League, an associate organisation of ruling Awami League, died of heart attack during an anti-drug peddling raid by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Barisal city on Sunday night.
Shahabuddin Sabu, 49, president of ward No 10 unit of Swechchhasebok League, and a member of city convening committee of the organisation, was declared dead after he was brought to Sher E Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) after a Rab raid about 9:00pm on Sunday, said Shahidullah, local ward councillor.
Sabu's wife Rashida Begum alleged that when the Rab team failed to get Sabu at their rented house, they beat her.
"Then searching the neighbouring house, they nabbed Sabu and beat him. Sabu, a cardiac patient, was released from SBMCH four days ago and he was supposed to go to Dhaka within a day or two for better treatment. He died of heart attack due to raid and torture by Rab," Rashida added.
Captain Sarfaraz, media spokesman of Rab-8, denied the allegation of beating Sabu or his wife Rashida.
"Raiding Band Road area of the city, a Rab team led by Major Rashed arrested drug peddler Rafikul Islam Monu of Amanatganj Palashpur area with 360 pieces of yaba tablet at about 6:50pm on Sunday," he said.
"During interrogation, Monu said he had collected yaba from the local wholesale drug trader Sabu. Sabu, earlier arrested by Rab with yaba, was recently released from jail after one month's custody and again engaged in drug peddling.
"Rab raided Sabu's rented house at about 7:30pm on Sunday but failed to get him there. Hearing that he may have jumped to the neighbouring house to hide there, Rab men accompanied by local elites raided neighbouring Jahanara Manzil. Finding Sabu lying unconscious there, the law enforcers asked the family members to take him to hospital.
"The family members and witnesses acknowledged that Sabu was a cardiac patient and died of heart attack," said the Rab spokesman.
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