Eyewitness Account Challenges Official Police Narrative
In a recent police operation that tragically ended with the death of 19-year-old Anisur Rahman, conflicting accounts have emerged. While Lefteris Kyriakou, the head of the Limassol Crime Investigation Department, maintained that officers conducted the raid by knocking and entering the apartment, an eyewitness presents a starkly different story.
K.S., who was present during the police raid and is now detained at the Menogeia Detention Center, has contested the police’s version of events. Speaking to philenews and in-cyprus, K.S. described a chaotic scene where “15 people without uniforms” forcefully entered the apartment, assaulting individuals inside and causing panic. This account raises serious questions about the conduct of the officers involved in the operation, which was aimed at locating undocumented migrants.
The incident unfolded early Wednesday when police acted on a tip and stormed an apartment on the fifth floor of a Limassol building. In a desperate attempt to evade arrest, two foreign nationals leapt from a window. The fall resulted in the death of Rahman, a worker from Bangladesh, and left another man with severe injuries, now hospitalized and under police watch.
As K.S. awaits deportation, he expresses a desire to leave Cyprus as soon as possible, citing fears for his safety after speaking out. “Menogeia is like a prison,” he said, revealing that detainees were prompted to sign voluntary return requests.
In response to this incident, AKEL has demanded answers from the Justice Minister and Police Chief regarding the legality of the search and the use of force. Simultaneously, Maria Stylianou Lottides, Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights Protection, has initiated an independent investigation to shed light on the circumstances leading to Rahman’s untimely death.
The community awaits further updates on the condition of the hospitalized man, who is also under arrest. With an independent inquiry underway, clarity is sought on the adherence to legal protocols and human rights standards during such operations.
