The police have arrested Akash, the accused in the murder case of disabled youth Anwar Molya, who was tortured to death after being tied to a tree in Narail on suspicion of being a thief. He was arrested from Narkelbaria in Jessore district early on Friday (July 3).

The arrested accused Akash Biswas (25) is the son of Prabash Biswas of Gobra Malopara in Narail Sadar Upazila.

Disabled Anwar, son of Kawsar Uddin Molya of Sarkeldanga village in Banshgram union in Narail Sadar Upazila, died on the morning of July 2 while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital for eight days. The body reached home that afternoon.

In the evening, after the funeral prayer at the local madrasa premises, he was buried in the village graveyard.

Meanwhile, locals have held protest marches and rallies in protest of the incident and demanding the arrest of the accused and trial through a speedy trial tribunal. The protest march started from Banshgram Bazar at around 6 pm on Thursday and ended in front of Sarkeldanga Madrasa near the deceased’s house after a road parade. Relatives of the deceased and local leaders addressed the rally after the procession.

Earlier, on the morning of June 24, Anwar, who is mentally disabled, left his house. Family members searched in various areas but could not find him. That night, some people tied Anwar to a tree in Gobra Malopara of Sadar Upazila, suspecting him of being a thief, and inhumanly tortured and beat him until the early hours of the morning. On the morning of July 25, Narail Sadar Police Station rescued Anwar and admitted him to Narail District Hospital. Family members rushed to the hospital and found him in a dying state.

Since Anwar’s condition was critical, he was admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. He died while undergoing treatment there.

In this incident, the brother of disabled Anwar, Nabir Hossain, filed a case with Narail Sadar Police Station against 5 people and several others, including an unidentified person.

Narail Sadar Police Station OC Ajay Kumar Kundu said that based on secret information and with the help of information technology, Akash was able to be arrested from the house of a relative of his in Narkelbaria, Jessore district. Akash had fled under the bed after sensing the presence of the police. The arrested Akash is the 4th accused in the murder case of disabled Anwar. Akash had been absconding since the incident. Akash will be handed over to the court.