Cops 'discouraged war crimes witness from testifying'
The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal has written to the home ministry to take departmental action against two Satkhira police officials allegedly for trying to keep a witness from testifying in a war crimes case.
In the letter sent on Wednesday to the home secretary, it recommended suspending or transferring Ali Ahmed Hashmi, an inspector, and Rafiqul Islam, an assistant sub-inspector of the Detective Branch of police, from Satkhira immediately for the sake of investigation.
Signed by Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of the agency, copies of the letter were sent to the inspector general of police, deputy inspector general (Khulna range) of police, and additional secretary (administration/police) of the ministry.
The probe body had previously received allegations against leaders and activists of political parties or even journalist of intimidating prosecution witnesses.
“But this is the first time we have found such allegations against any police official,” Sanaul said.
The war crimes case involved here is against Abdul Khaleq Mandol, former lawmaker and incumbent chief of the Satkhira Jamaat unit. A probe into the charges brought against him began in June 2015 and is still on, said Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman.
Investigation officer of the case Abdur Razzak Khan have already “found evidence” of his involvement in 1971 war crimes, including murder and rape, she added.
Important witnesses and victims are discouraged from giving testimonies in different ways. Birangana Safura Khatun is an important witness in the case against Khaleq who is now in jail, the investigation agency said in the letter.
Detectives, on instructions from Hashmi, conducted a “staged drive” on January 1 afternoon against Phensedyl and detained Safura's son Rafiqul Islam.
When IO Razzak requested Hashmi to “deal the matter softly” Hashmi responded with satire and turned down the request, according to the letter.
The IO did not get any solution to the matter even after talking to KM Ariful Haque, Satkhira additional superintendent of police.
He then, with approval of Sanaul, requested Md Jahangir, a member of Boikari Union Parishad, to address the issue. After talks with the member, the detectives released Rafiqul for Tk 20,000.
The ongoing war crimes trial is a political pledge of the incumbent government, and the local administrations and police have been cooperating in the investigation of the cases.
But Hashmi and ASI Rafiqul, instead of extending their support, showed utter non-cooperation by detaining son of a witness and keeping him confined for around 22 hours “illegally” and received Tk 20, 000 bribe, the agency said in the letter.
The behaviour of KM Ariful also does not go with the portfolio he holds, as per the letter.
Speaking on phone Hashmi outright rejected his involvement in any such incident.
Asked about the letter, he said, “No such incident took place at all.”
Additional SP Ariful Haque said that when Razzak informed him about the incident, he asked Hashmi to take “necessary legal step”.
“Later, I learnt that he [Rafiqul] was released as the preliminary allegation brought against him was not proved.”
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