Limon cleared of both criminal cases, finally
A Jhalakathi court today dropped the charge of obstructing law enforcers from discharging their duties against Limon Hossain, clearing the college student of both the criminal cases Rab filed against him after shooting him in the leg in 2011.
The court decision came 15 months after the government decision to withdraw both the cases filed by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).
"The verdict has proved that I am innocent," Limon said after Jhalakathi Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Shamim Azad relieved him of the charges this morning.
"But I am not very happy. I will be happy when the Rab personnel responsible for shooting me are brought to justice," he added.
On March 23, 2011, a Rab team shot Limon in the left leg at Shaturia village, taking him for a notorious criminal it was looking for.
The elite force then picked him up and sent him to a hospital. On the same day, Rab filed two cases against him — one for possessing arms and another for obstructing law enforcers. As evidence against the poor, meritorious boy, Rab produced a worn out revolver and a used bullet cap.
Four days after the shooting, Limon’s leg had to be amputated. He now walks on an artificial leg.
The police submitted the charge sheet against him in the arms case on April 24, 2011. The charge sheet in the second case was submitted on July 1, 2011.
The government on July 9 last year decided to withdraw both the cases following a request by National Human Rights (NHRC) Commission chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman. He was in arm a case relieved on July 29, 2013. This comes eight days after Limon was indicted in the arms case, drawing huge outcry from rights bodies over the government’s failure to protect the innocent college boy.
On July 11, 2013, the government issued a gazette notification for withdrawing the two cases the elite force had filed against him.
The notification issued by the Law Ministry said: "As per the section 494 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the government has decided not to proceed with the cases."
It also said the public prosecutor of Jhalakathi has been directed to take necessary steps for withdrawal of the cases.
On July 1, 2013, the trial of one of the two cases against Limon began after a special tribunal in Jhalakati framed charges against him.
Limon's mother, Henoara Begum, filed a case with Rajapur Police Station on April 10, 2011, accusing six Rab personnel of attempted murder and maiming his son.
Police secretly submitted the final report on the case to a court on August 14, 2012, saying they found no evidence and witnesses against the Rab personnel.
Limon's mother filed 'no confidence' petition against the final report on August 30, 2012, which was rejected by a Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court on February 13, 2013.
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