A man was beaten to death in police custody in Rangpur yesterday, alleged his family members.

The victim, Sohel Rana alias Russell, 26, was the son of Ruhul Amin of Haldibari village under Kaunia upazila.

He died around 10:00am at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

Denying the allegation of torture, police claimed that Sohel was a drug smuggler and also an addict and was accused in different drug peddling cases filed with different police stations in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat.

They said detectives, led by Sub-Inspector Babul Islam, picked up Sohel in front of China Cinema Hall in Satmatha area around 10:00pm Saturday and took him to district DB office.

As he fell sick there, the police sent him to the RMCH in the early hours of yesterday, they added.

But Sohana Moni, elder sister of Sohel Rana, said law enforcers picked up her brother from their house in Haldibari around 10:00pm Saturday. The police also demanded Tk 1.5 lakh for his release, she added.

They killed him as the family refused to give the money, she alleged.  

“We demand punishment of the police officials responsible for my husband's death,” said Runi Begum, Sohel's wife.

ABM Zakir Hossain, additional superintendent of Rangpur police, denied the allegations. He said Sohel stood accused in different drug peddling cases and was an addict.