NATORE: The district and session judge’s court Sunday sent 11 policemen to jail in connection with the killing of a businessman in so-called ‘crossfire’.

They are former office-in-charge of Singra thana Abu Bakkar, SI Liakat Ali, ASI Praddyut Kar, constable Jasim, constable Asir Uddin, constable Kamal, constable Kashem, constable Anwar, constable Mofiz, constable Hafizur Rahman and battalion ansar Adhir Chandra.

As the accused cops appeared before the court and prayed for bail, the court rejected their plea and ordered them all into jail.

It comes as a significant development as various quarters and international agencies raised objection to “extra-judicial killings” and the High Court ordered a halt.          

Judge Abdul Majid in his order said, “Death in police custody is not legal. The accused were officials of the thana concerned who were supposed to protect people’s life and property. So, it’s quite impossible to grant them bail as they have done what is contrary to their duty.”

The court sources said Rajab Ali of Bahimahal village under Singra thana applied to the ministry of home affairs to file a case against the police for the ‘planned murder’ of his son Ansar by torturing in thana. Later on January 6, the home ministry gave him permission to sue the cops.

Rajab Ali, on August 17, 2009, filed the case with the court against 21 police personnel, including the then additional police super Ashik Saeed, assistant police super (sadar circle) Ashraful Haque and Singra thana office-in-charge Abu Bakkar, accusing them of killing his son Anser Ali in a planned way, which the policemen claimed as death in ‘crossfire’.

Additional chief judicial magistrate Mohammad Aktaruzzaman took the case in cognizance and directed magistrate Mahmudul Hasan to conduct judicial enquiry into the allegation.

A total of 12 persons made submissions before the court during the probe, which proved that the police held Ansar Ali on July 23 night from his residence and took him to Singra thana.  On July 26 he was “killed” by bullet and some sharp weapons in Kakian jungle, some 25 km off the police station.

A bench comprising justice M Shamsul Huda and justice Abu Bakar Siddiqui ordered the seven accused locals to appear before the Natore district judge court within eight weeks for the allegation of assisting the accused policemen after they had applied for bail in the high court.

The court set July 27 as the date for next hearing of the case.

BDST: 2000 HRS. July 11, 2010