Robbed of first, then roughed up by police

Police allegedly beat up a mugging victim as he tried to get down from a police van in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital's emergency gate on Monday, reports UNB. Witnesses and hospital sources said Rezaul Karim, manager of Baishakhi Hotel and Restaurant at 173 Topkhana Road, was walking towards Motijheel along with his friend Farid from Topkhana at noon. Rezaul was carrying Tk 1.43 lakh. As they reached Dainik Bangla Crossing at about 12:30 pm, a gang of 3-4 muggers intercepted them and snatched the money from Rezaul. As Rezaul screamed out seeking help, pedestrians chased the muggers and caught one of them, Mizan (26). The pedestrians had given Mizan a tremendous thrashing before a patrol team from Paltan police station, led by sub-inspector, Ahsan Habib, reached the spot.SI Habib took mugger Mizan and victim Rezaul into their van and sped towards Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Hospital sources said SI Habib beat up Rezaul as he tried to get down from the police van in front of the emergency gate of the hospital, an allegation denied by the SI. Later, Mizan and Rezaul were taken to Paltan police station. Mizan was given first aid at the hospital.Contacted, SI Ahsan Habib told UNB that police recovered Tk 43,000 from Mizan while the remaining amount was taken away by Mizan's accomplices.