HC questions legality of Patuakhali cop torture

The High Court today questioned the legality of an incident of police torture on an accused in a case at the office room of officer-in-charge (OC) of Baufal Police Station in Patuakhali on February 12.

The HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the alleged incident of torture on Hafizur Rahman Bijoy, the victim, should not be declared illegal and why they should not be ordered to compensate Hafizur.

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to show cause as to why appropriate legal action will not be taken against the police personnel who were involved with the incident of torturing. 

At the same time, the HC summoned Assistant Superintendent of Police of Baufal Circle Saiful Islam and OC of Baufal Police Station Azam Khan Faruki directing them to appear before it on February 27 and explain their conducts over the incident of torture on Hafizur, Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the rule and order after hearing a writ petition filed by Hafizur’s mother Josna Begum seeking necessary directives on the responsible police personnel.

She submitted the writ petition recently to the HC annexing a report published on the daily Janakantha on February 14 over the incident of police torture on Hafizur Rahman.

According to the report, Sub-inspector Ferdaus of Baufal police arrested Hafizur in a case and brought him to the custody of the police station in the evening on February 12.

At midnight Hafizur was brought to the office room of the OC and beaten with sticks, the report said, adding that OC Azam Khan Faruki was not in the office at that time.

OC Azam Khan, however, told the newspaper that ASP Saiful Islam had interrogated Hafizur Rahman at his (OC) office room but did not torture him.