Rangpur: A man was beaten to death reportedly by policemen at Shatmatha area in the city of Rangpur on early Saturday.

The victim was identified as Nur Nabi Miah, 35, son of Abdur Rashid of Balatary area in the city.

Talking to reporters, Nabi’s wife Arjina Begum said a police team, led by of Kotwali police sub-inspector Tarekul Islam, conducted a drive at the house of Nur Nabi in the area in the early hours on Saturday and arrested him on charge of stealing a motorcycle.

The policemen allegedly demanded Tk 80,000 for releasing her husband, she said.

As the family failed to pay the money, the policemen started beating him, leaving him injured.

Nabi was immediately taken to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital by a police van where duty doctors declared him dead.

Outraged by the death of Nabi, some agitated people confined the policemen for half an hour.

On information, officer-in-charge of the police station ABM Jahidul Islam rushed to the spot and rescued the policemen after giving assurance of punishment of the perpetrators.

SI Tarekul Islam, however, dismissed the allegation of demanding bribe from the family and said Nur Nabi fell sick due to fear and later he died while he was being taken to the hospital.

He said the body was sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue.

A case was filed with the police station in this connection.

Meanwhile, a three-member probe committee, headed by additional superintendent of police Zakir Hossain, was formed to investigate the incident.

The committee was asked to submit the report within a week.