Visually Impaired Youth Tortured After Tree-Hanging on Theft Suspicion

A visually impaired young man named Jalal Mia, aged 25, was reportedly tortured after being hung from a tree on suspicion of theft.

The incident occurred on Thursday (4 December) afternoon in Dakshin Burdeo village of Companyganj upazila in Sylhet. Photos and videos of the torture have since gone viral on social media.

He is the son of the late Ali Akbar of Dakshin Burdeo village.

Following the incident, Jalal’s mother, Shiriya Begum, filed a complaint at the police station. After the complaint was lodged, police arrested Arfan Ali (42), son of Usman Ali of the same village.

Eyewitnesses said that early on Thursday, money went missing from the pocket of Yunus in Burdeo village. On suspicion of theft, villagers including Yunus Ali and his brother Arfan Ali found the visually impaired Jalal sleeping in a boat on the river and detained him. They then hung him from a tree branch with a rope and tortured him in a medieval manner.

During questioning, the visually impaired Jalal told police: “I was asleep. Yunus and his son found me sleeping, tied me up, and brought me away. Then they hung me from a tree and tortured me in various ways.”

The Officer-in-Charge of Companyganj Police Station, Ratan Sheikh, confirmed the incident to the media.

He said that Jalal’s mother, Shiriya Begum, came to the station and informed him. Police were immediately dispatched to rescue Jalal, after which he was taken to the upazila health complex for treatment.

Arfan Ali, who was involved in the incident, has been arrested. Others involved will also be identified and brought under the law.

Khaborwala/SS