Rabiul’s death in custody: Fearing reprisal, family hesitates to file case

Family members of Rabiul Islam, who was beaten to death allegedly by  police personnel in Lalmonirhat on April 14, are hesitant to file any  case against the suspects as they fear reprisals.

They are now demanding a judicial enquiry into the incident.

"Many  people in our village suggest that we should not file the case against  police personnel saying that if we do so, we may be harassed by them. We  are now in fear," Dulal Khan, father of Rabiul, told The Daily Star.

"As we are helpless, we demand a judicial enquiry into my son's death."

Victim's  wife Monira Begum, 20, "We all know that my husband died in police  torture. But we have neither enough courage nor strength to continue any  legal battle against police. We are scared."

Rabiul, 26, of Kazir  Chawra village in Lalmonirhat Sadar, got into an argument with officers  when a police team detained him on suspicion of being a gambler at a  Baishakhi Mela, a traditional event celebrating the first day of the  Bangla new year, on April 14 night.

Police personnel then beat him  up. Rabiul fell to the ground and lost consciousness after a policeman  kicked him in the crotch around 10:00pm, an eyewitness earlier told this  correspondent.

According to documents at Lalmonirhat Sadar  Hospital, doctors declared Rabiul dead after he was taken to the  hospital around 11:45pm.

Demanding justice, locals blocked the Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway's Mahendranagar point for an hour the next day.

They  withdrew it after Sub-Inspector Halimur Rahman of Lalmonirhat Sadar  Police Station, who led the police team, was closed and attached to the  district Police Lines.

Talking to this newspaper on Thursday,  local lawmaker GM Quader, also Jatiya Party chairman, who visited the  spot on Monday, said an attempt was made to cover up the incident, but  it was foiled as people took to the streets.

"There should be a judicial enquiry into the incident to reveal the truth."

Meanwhile,  after visiting the spot on Wednesday, Walid Hossain, additional deputy  inspector general of police (Rangpur range), who is leading a  three-member probe body, said they started talking to locals, witnesses  and family members of the victim.

"We will prepare the probe report shortly and submit it before our higher authorities concerned."