A local leader of the Awami Swechchasebak League while allegedly being chased by police was electrocuted in city’s Lalbagh area in the early hours of Friday.

The victim was identified as Sumon (25), general Secretary of ward no-60 of the Awami Swechchasebak League and son of Abdul Malek, a resident of 40/1, Shahidnagar under Lalbagh police station. Police said Sumon was electrocuted. But Sumon’s younger brother Sajib alleged that his brother, when chased by police, jumped out from rooftop of their residence to evade arrest and came in touch with a live electric wire.

He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the doctor on duty pronounced him dead. There is no cases against Sumon, Sajib added. Meanwhile, namaj-e-janaza of the deceased Sumon was held in front of the Awami League office at Bangabandhu avenue on Friday afternoon.

A number of Awami League leaders including Amir Hossain Amu and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya took part in the namaj-e-janaza, sources said.

UNB adds: Lalbagh police said the victim was electrocuted as he tried to escape when they went to arrest them.

According to Sumon’s family members, Nirab went to the victim’s house at 80/1 Shahidbagh under Lalbagh thana Thursday evening and asked Sumon to pay him Tk 10,000 as toll, a demand turned down by Sumon.

Brother of the victim, told reporters that a team of Lalbagh police along with Nirab came back to the house at about 12.30 am to arrest Sumon. Sumon was in a room on the 1st floor of the tin-shed house. He jumped on the roof of the adjacent house through a window to escape arrest.

But Nirab caught Sumon and started beating him. “At one stage, Sumon came in touch of a live wire and was electrocuted while passing the rooftop in his bid to escape,” Sujon added.

Sumon was accused in a case filed with Lalbagh thana under Explosives Substance Act.

Police said they raided the house ahead of today’s (Saturday) countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal.

A UD case was filed with Lalbagh thana in this connection.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Awami Swechchasebak League brought a protest procession after the namaj-e-janaza of Sumon Friday afternoon.