Police have arrested a 10th-grade student in connection with the brutal murder of Peer Shri Shamim Jahangir, also known as Abdur Rahman (60), in Daulatpur Upazila of Kushtia.
The student, identified as Alamgir Hossain (16), was apprehended late Monday night (April 27) from Islampur village under Philipnagar Union. Alamgir is the son of Tashikul Islam and a student at Islampur Secondary School.
Conflicting Claims Over the Arrest
While the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station, Md. Arifur Rahman confirmed the arrest, and the suspect’s family has raised serious allegations against the law enforcement’s procedures.
According to Alamgir’s father, Tashikul Islam, the police initially took his son away under the guise of a simple inquiry.
“At night, the police came to our house and said they were taking my son to the station for questioning. Many people went to the spot to see what happened after the incident, and my son was among them. Now, he has been made an accused.”
The boy’s aunt, Rozina Khatun, provided further details, claiming that the police were originally looking for Alamgir’s cousin, Shaon. Failing to find Shaon, they took Alamgir instead.
“Alamgir was sleeping in his room. When his mother, Alia Khatun, woke up and saw the police holding her son, they told her they were taking him for questioning and asked us to pick him up in the morning. But when we went to the station the next day, they labeled him an accused in the murder case.”
She further insisted on his innocence, stating:
“Alamgir wasn’t even at the scene when the attack happened. He had returned from private tutoring and was helping his mother with household chores. He only went to the spot later with his parents after hearing the news. Many of the actual perpetrators have been identified, yet they are arresting my minor nephew instead.”
Police Stand and Investigation
The police, however, maintain that the arrest was based on evidence. Sheikh Mohammad Ali Mortuza, Inspector (Investigation) of Daulatpur Police Station and the case’s investigating officer, stated that Alamgir was identified through video footage analysis.
The teenager was sent to jail through a court order on Tuesday (April 28). Previously, two other suspects—Biplob Hossain (26) and Alif Islam (23)—were also arrested in connection with the case.
Background of the Incident
The murder occurred on April 11 at the South-West Philipnagar village. A mob of over a hundred people attacked the shrine of Peer Shamim Jahangir following allegations of desecrating the Holy Quran. The attackers reportedly dragged him out of his room and hacked him to death with sharp weapons and blunt sticks.
