Patuakhali ASP tortures man in custody
Finds police probe
Saiful Islam, assistant superintendent of police (Bauphal circle) of Patuakhali, was allegedly involved in torturing an accused, Hafizur Rahman Bijoy, at the police station on February 12, according to the report of a probe conducted by the police as per a High Court (HC) order.
Inspector-general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque yesterday submitted the probe report to the HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah. The HC bench is likely to pass its order on Monday. In the report, the IGP said two police officials jointly conducted the investigation into the allegation levelled against the ASP and found him guilty. The officials are additional superintendent of police Abul Hossain Mondol and inspector Helal Uddin.
In their probe report, it was mentioned that after conducting the investigation into the incident, they found that ASP Saiful Islam was involved in torturing the accused Hafizur Rahman.
During the investigation, it has been proved that ASP Saiful beat up Hafizur severely after taking him to the officer-in-charges room at the Bauphal police station in Patuakhali, the probe report said.
On February 27, the HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah ordered the immediate withdrawal of assistant superintendent of police (Bauphal circle) of Patuakhali, Saiful Islam, over the torture of the accused in police custody.
It also asked the police to provide security to the family of victim Hafizur Rahman Bijoy, son of Shamsul Haque
Khan of Kolta village in Bauphal upazila. It asked the IGP to investigate the incident and submit a report before it on March 19.
Earlier in the day, the ASP and officer-in-charge of Bauphal police station, Azam Khan Faruki, placed their explanations after appearing before the court.
The court also exempted the two police officials from personal appearance. On February 20, the High Court summoned the ASP and the OC to explain the torture of an accused in police custody.
In response to a petition filed by the victims mother Jesna Begum, the HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why legal action should not be taken against the alleged police officials and why compensation should not be paid to the victim.
The home secretary, IGP and deputy inspector-general of police (DIG) of Barisal zone were asked to respond to the rule. On February 14, a report, headlined Torture in Bauphal OCs room, was published in a newspaper.
