12-yr-old boy tortured over trivial matter
A 12-year-old boy working as a bus helper suffered torture and degrading treatment for several hours in Rajshahi's Puthia upazila early yesterday at the hands of other staff who accused him of damaging wires of an onboard CD player.
Despite voicing his innocence, Nazmul Haque of Baroipara village was beaten, tufts of his hair cut and face smeared in burned engine oil, all the while tied to a truck, said police and witnesses.
Police rescued him, took his statement and handed him over to his father Hafizur Rahman, Puthia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) (investigation) Rakibul Hasan told The Daily Star.
Although police could proactively bring the torturers to justice, the OC said they would "look into the matter" only after the victim's family files a complaint.
Hafizur, a landless farmer, is unwilling to file a case fearing associated expenses and reprisals from the staff.
He said Nazmul was told to stay overnight inside the bus of Sabbir Paribahan parked at Khan Filling Station. The staff started beating him at 3:00am and kept him tied to the truck till 7:00am, when the degrading treatment followed, he said.
“My son is still crying and claiming his innocence," said Hafizur last evening.
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