Man hammered to death with stone in Old Dhaka, 4 held

Police on Friday arrested four individuals in connection with the brutal murder of a businessman, who was beaten, hacked and hammered to death with a stone, in Old Dhaka on Wednesday.

Chand Mia alias Sohag, 39, had faced the tragic fate at around 6:00 PM, near Gate No. 3 Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford Hospital) in the area.

Among the arrested, two are identified as Mahmudul Hasan Mohin, 41, and Tarek Rahman Robin, 22, while the identities of others are yet to be known. A foreign-made pistol has also been recovered from Robin's possession.

On Friday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the details in an official press briefing. 

Sources said that a group of assailants attacked Sohag in broad daylight, dragging his lifeless body to the street outside the hospital compound and continuing their assault in front of dozens of bystanders to make sure his death.

The next day of the incident, a nearby CCTV footage of the brutal killing circulated on social media which showed two men dragging a nearly naked and blood-stained Sohag from inside the hospital gate. Among the accused, one slapped him on his face, another jumped on his chest, followed by others who kicked his head. Eventually, a large stone from the roadside was used to repeatedly hammer his head till he breathed his last.

Despite the proximity of an Ansar security camp and ongoing medical services at the hospital, no one intervened out of fear. 

Doctors later confirmed that Sohag passed away before being taken to the hospital.

Being tipped off, police from Kotwali Police Station arrived at the scene, brought the situation under control, and sent the body for autopsy.

The victim’s elder sister filed a murder case with the police station in this connection. 

Investigators analyzed CCTV footage and conducted raids in various areas of the capital and arrested the duo. Police also said that initial investigations pointed to a business rivalry and previous enmity as possible motives for the killing.

Additionally, two more suspects were arrested by RAB, bringing the total number of arrests to four. Legal proceedings are currently underway.

HKJ