Apprentice lawyer’s death in custody: HC asks for judicial inquiry

The High Court today ordered the chief metropolitan magistrate of Barishal to conduct a judicial inquiry into the allegation of torture and death of an apprentice lawyer, Rejaul Karim Reja, in police custody on the night of January 3 this year.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Rejaul's father Md Younus Munshi seeking its order for a judicial inquiry into the allegation.

Younus Munshi submitted the petition under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in first week of February to the HC through lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir, apprehending that investigation of the case by police may not be fair as three police personnel have been made accused in the case.

Citing the petition, lawyer Shishir Manir told The Daily Star that Kotwali Police Station in Barishal has refused to record the case over the death of Rejaul in police custody as three police personnel were involved with the incident.

The Police Bureau of Investigation is now conducting probe into the case in line with a court order, he said, adding that there is a reasonable apprehension that fair investigation of the case by the police may not take place.

The 30-year-old apprentice lawyer died in custody, four days after he was arrested by the detective branch of police in Barishal.

His father on the same day filed the case with the court against DB Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin Mahi and two other members of DB on charge of torturing his son to death in custody. In the case, charge of murder was brought, Shishir Manir said. 

The HC has powers under the CrPC to order for judicial inquiry into this case, he said.