Student ‘Victimised’ by Cops
OC Helal suspended
Police form probe body; law ministry waits on copy of HC order
Helal Uddin, officer-in-charge of Khilgaon Police Station, was suspended yesterday over torture of Dhaka University student Abdul Kadar.
DMP’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman confirmed The Daily Star about the suspension of Helal who allegedly chopped the calf muscle of Kadar’s left leg with a cleaver and let other policemen beat him severely.
The police also formed a four-member team yesterday to investigate the much-talked-about incident of torture following a High Court directive, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources said.
The probe body, led by Abdul Jalil, additional commissioner (administration) of DMP, was asked to submit a report within next three working days.
Earlier on Friday, Sub-Inspector Alam Badsha and Assistant Sub-Inspector Shahidur Rahman of the police station were suspended on the same allegations.
The High Court on Thursday ordered the inspector general of police to suspend immediately the three officers for the torture link.
It also asked the law secretary to form a committee headed by an officer of the ministry with the rank of at least joint secretary to investigate the incident of detention and torture of Kadar.
A top law ministry official, requesting anonymity, told The Daily Star that they will implement the HC order after receiving a copy of it.
The court took up the issue after the media brought the incident to light a couple of days ago. According to news reports, police tried to label Abdul Kadar as a robber while his teachers and fellow students claimed his innocence.
In a suo moto rule Thursday morning, the HC summoned the policemen concerned, and also brought Kadar, the National Human Rights Commission chief and a Dhaka University teacher to the hearing on the rule in the evening.
Abdul Kadar, who was undergoing treatment at the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), yesterday demanded his unconditional release and immediate withdrawal of cases filed against him by police.
He made the demand as his family members went to visit him at BSMMU in the morning.
His sister Jannatul Mawa told The Daily Star Kadar also demanded punitive action against the police officials who tortured him.
Mawa said the family was satisfied over ongoing treatment of Kadar. She said Kadar is still feeling pain in his body and could not move his leg properly.
Kadar’s mother, sister and relatives spent a few hours with him.
Doctors at the BSMMU told The Daily Star that they had done some test on Kadar and the exact condition of his health, specifically of his leg, will be known after getting the report today.
In another development a group of Dhaka University (DU) students yesterday demonstrated on the DU campus, wanted unconditional release of Kadar and withdrawal of the cases.
The students under the banner of Students against Oppression held a rally at the feet of Aparajeyo Bangla as part of their ongoing protest programmes against police torture on Kadar.
At the rally, the students demanded exemplary punishment and sacking of the three police officers.
-With The Daily Star input
