Torture in Remand: Doctors find injury marks on woman

Doctors found injury marks on the body of a woman, who stands accused in a murder case of Barishal's Ujirpur upazila. 

On Friday, she told a Barishal court that the investigation officer of the case sexually harassed her and some other police personnel tortured her physically during her remand at Ujirpur Police Station.

Doctors of Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital conducted a health checkup on the woman after the court ordered the hospital's director to submit a report within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the superintendent of Barishal police yesterday filed a case against the police personnel and formed a committee to investigate the incident as per the court order.

Khurshid Jahan, head of the gynaecology department at the hospital, said a report was submitted to the court.

Hospital Director HM Saiful Islam said after examining the woman on Friday, the report was sent to the court in a sealed envelope on Saturday.

He said he didn't know what was in the report.

The Daily Star obtained a copy of the report.

The report, signed by Prof Mohsena Akhter of the hospital, mentions that injury marks were found in four places, including joints of both hands and neck. The incident took place at 10:00am on July 1,the report added.

Maruf Hasan Khan, superintendent of Barishal police, said after receiving the court order, they formed a probe committee, led by Barishal range Superintendent of Police Kazi Shoaib Ahmed. The body would submit its report within the next three days, he added.

Earlier, investigation officer of the case Mainul, inspector of Ujirpur Police Station, denied the allegations brought against him.

On June 26, Ujirpur police recovered the body of vegetable vendor Basudeb Chakraborty in Jambari village.

The victim's brother Barun Chakrabarty filed a murder case against the woman the next day.

Police arrested her on June 30 and produced her before a court that placed her on a two-day remand.

After her remand, she was again produced before the court on Friday and she then brought allegations of sexual harassment and torture during her remand.