GAIBANDHA: A court sent three policemen, including the former Officer-in-Charge of Gaibandha sadar thana, to jail Monday, as higher court’s strict rulings against “extra-judicial killings” continued to be followed up of late.
This is the second time all in a row this month court acted against police for custodial death. Earlier, a court in Natore Sunday sent 11 policemen to jail for custodial death in so-called ‘crossfire’.
On May 21, 2006, Sajidur Rahman Sajid, 26, a medical representative of Gaibandha town, died in police custody of Gaibandha sadar thana.
The three accused - former OC of Gaibandha sadar thana Nur Alam, constable Dulal Chandra and Mizanur Rahman - submitted a petition seeking bail. But the district and sessions judge, Md. Maniruzzaman, turned down their plea and ordered them into jail.
Public prosecutor of the case Abdul Jalil Akand said police led by the then OC of the thana Nur Alam held Sajidur Rahman, son of trader Abdur Rouf Sarker of Munshipara in the town, from Kathpatti on May 18 in 2006.
Police filed an arms case against Sajid with the Sadar thana after they had detained him and took him on remand for 7 days for interrogation.
Sajid died on the third day of remand following “brutal torture”.
Police said it was a case of suicide, but the autopsy report proved Sajid was strangulated to death.
Sajid’s elder brother, Abdul Majed, and convener of the Gaibandha civil committee Aminul Islam Golap, being plaintiffs, filed a case with the chief judicial magistrate court of Gaibandha against 12 persons, including OC Nur Alam, SI Abu Yusuf, duty officer SI Fahima Haider, SI Sajjad Hossain, SI Masud Rana and SI Farhad Hossain.
Chief judicial magistrate Jalal Uddin asked for judicial enquiry into the allegations. The inquiry report was submitted accusing six persons of Sajid’s death and the court issued warrant of arrest against the accused.
Accused Nur Alam, Fahima Haider, Dulal Chandra and Mizanur Rahman submitted a bail petition on June 1, but the high court ordered them to appear before the lower court within six weeks.
After the hearing of the bail petition submitted on July 5 with Gaibandha district and sessions judge court, the court set Monday as the date for hearing of the petition.
Finally, the court, giving SI Fahima Haider an interim bail, handed down the verdict of sending the three accused, including OC Nur Alam, to jail after hearing both sides.
Meanwhile, five SIs of Dhaka were suspended on July 5 and 6 in connection with custodial deaths in the capital.
BDST: 2007 HRS. July 12, 2010
