Record case against DC, 3 officials
The High Court yesterday directed police to immediately record Kurigram journalist Ariful Islam's assault and attempted murder case against Deputy Commissioner Sultana Pervin, three of her colleagues, and the ansar personnel concerned.
In the early hours of March 14, a mobile court of Kurigram district administration, led by three assistant commissioners and allegedly following DC Sultana's directives, convicted and sentenced Ariful to one-year imprisonment after arresting him at his home for possession.
Yesterday, the HC also stayed for six months the proceedings of the case filed by the mobile court against Ariful, his conviction, and sentencing.
Besides, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government, DC Sultana, Senior Assistant Commissioner Nazim Uddin, and assistant commissioners Rintu Bikash Chakma and SM Rahatul Islam to explain in four weeks as to why the mobile court's action against Ariful should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by journalist Ariful challenging the legality of the mobile court's action against him.
Ariful is now out on bail.
Ariful's lawyer Ishrat Hasan told The Daily Star that Ariful and his family members were about to go to sleep when some Ansar members, accompanied by magistrates Nazim Uddin, Rintu Bikash Chakma and Rahatul Islam, stormed the house and tortured him.
The mobile court sentenced him around 1:30am on March 14.
It was done so as Ariful wrote about the alleged corruption by the district administration, including by DC Sultana, said Ishrat, citing the writ petition
The lawyer said Ariful later went to Kurigram Sadar Police Station to file a case against DC Sultana, Nazim Uddin, Rintu Bikash Chakma and Rahatul Islam and the Ansar personnel for torturing and attempting to kill him.
But police refused to record the case, she said, adding that the HC yesterday ordered the officer-in-charge of Kurigram Sadar Police Station to record the case.
DC Sultana and the magistrates have been withdrawn from their posts.
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