Death in Jail Custody: Court asks PBI to probe alleged torture

The family of the apprentice lawyer, who died in a prison cell of a hospital after alleged torture by members of Detective Branch of police, was able to file a murder case yesterday with a Barishal court that ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the incident.

Younus Munshi, father of victim Rejaul Islam Reja, 30, lodged the case with Barisal Metropolitan Magistrate's Court against Mohiuddin Ahamed, sub-inspector of Barisal Metropolitan DB Police, and two other members, said Mohsin Montu, a lawyer of the case.

In the case statement, the plaintiff said Mohiuddin and two other police personnel picked up his son on December 29 from a tea stall in front his house on the city's Hamid Khan Road.

At night, he was taken to the DB office and brutally tortured. He was sent to Barishal Central Jail when he fell sick. He died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Sunday morning, the complainant said.

Metropolitan Magistrate Anisur Rahman ordered the PBI to investigate the incident and submit a report to the court by February 23, said court sources.

Meanwhile, SI Mohiuddin has been closed and attached to the police lines. Though he was closed on Monday night, police informed the media yesterday.

Contacted, BMP Commissioner Shahabuddin Khan said the allegations against Mohiuddin published in the media were taken seriously and he was closed and attached to the police lines.

Rejaul had been working as an apprentice lawyer with Zakir Hossain Mintu, a member of Barishal Bar Association, for several years.

The DB on the night of December 29 filed a drugs case against Rejaul with Kotwali Police Station and handed him over to police, said his brother-in-law Abdul Barek Howlader earlier.

A local court sent him to jail the following day.

On January 1, he was admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

The victim's family repeatedly told the media that Rejaul had been tortured, but police denied the allegation.