Limon Shot to Disability
Call for credible probe
Amnesty terms govt’s dealing a mockery, says it exposes contradictions, lack of accountability within state system
Amnesty International yesterday said the government’s dealing with the Limon issue was a mockery and it exposed contradictions and lack of accountability within the state system.
Limon Hossain, a college student, lost a leg after Rab shot him on March 23 at Chhaturia of Jhalakathi.
“It’s a blatant example of mockery. You play around with the life of young people and do not establish accountability in the system. There are hundreds of families in urgent need of justice after becoming victims of this force,” said Deputy Director of Asia-Pacific Programme of Amnesty International Madhu Malhotra.
She made the comment after visiting Limon Hossain at Gano Shasthya Nagar Hospital in Dhaka. Malhotra was accompanied by Amnesty International researcher Andrew Frueti.
While talking to the Amnesty International team, Limon himself expressed concern over whom to seek justice from. He pointed out statements made by the prime minister’s defence adviser and Home Minister Sahara Khatun trying to brand not only him but also his family members as criminals.
Talking to journalists after the visit, Malhotra said the available description of the event and statements made by Rab and the government are contradictory. “It is a mockery… you have so many contradictions within the system. There is a need for impartial and independent investigation to see what actually happened,” Malhotra added.
The Amnesty International team urged the government to fulfil its promises made two and half years ago before the election. The team said Amnesty International is not aware of a single instance of prosecution of a Rab personnel.
“If faith of a common person of Bangladesh is to be reinstated in the system, this is a high time for Bangladesh,” Malhotra said, adding, “This is a unique opportunity for Bangladesh to show, through the Limon’s case, that credible investigations are being conducted and justice is being delivered, obviously through a fair trial. Some sort of accountability have to be put in place to make sure no such violation takes place in future.”
On the government investigation into the Limon’s case, Malhotra urged impartial intervention in every investigation rather than ones being merely completed by Rab personnel or government officials. She urged the government to make probe reports public.
Limon told the team that he is preparing to sit for the HSC examination. He is unable to see his parents for over a week as their stay is not permitted at Gano Shasthya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi.
“You are very brave, Limon. You are seeking truth and justice,” said Malhotra.
“We are here to push so that justice is delivered to you and you are properly rehabilitated and compensated,” she added.
As the team bade farewell to Limon, journalists present there asked for his reaction.
Sitting on the bed with his only leg dangling, a calm and determined Limon in a single breath said, “There is none but the prime minister from whom I can seek justice at this moment. I want punishment if impartial and independent investigation finds me guilty. If not, I want punishment to those who held me by the collar of my shirt before shooting me holding the gun against my leg.”
Courtesy of The Daily Star
