Imam Hasan killing: Father alleges inquest report ‘signed under pressure omitted gunshot injuries’
Maynal said although his son’s body was riddled with bullets from police gunfire, the inquest report mentioned only “injury spots.”
The father of Imam Hasan Taim, who was killed during the 2024 July Uprising in the capital's Jatrabari, has alleged that the inquest report of his son's body did not mention gunshot injuries and that he was forced to sign it.
Taim's father, Sub-Inspector Md Maynal Hossain Bhuiyan made the statement while testifying today (15 April) before the single bench of Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir of International Crimes Tribunal-2 in a case filed over crimes against humanity in connection with Taim's killing.
Maynal said although his son's body was riddled with bullets from police gunfire, the inquest report mentioned only "injury spots" instead of stating that he had been shot.
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Describing the events of 21 July, he said he went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the morning with family members and colleagues, where his son's body was taken for inquest and post-mortem.
He said Sub-Inspector Shahadat of Shahbagh Police Station met him there.
Maynal said, "Although Shahadat was present from the morning, he delayed the inquest until around 12pm. During the process, he did not record any gunshot injuries, noting only holes and black spots on the body."
Maynal further alleged that Shahadat told him he could not mention gunfire due to "orders from above" and instead claimed in the report that Taim died from injuries and gunfire caused by "students and the public," before asking him to sign it.
He said he ultimately signed the report under pressure, citing his son's death, concerns over his job, the passage of more than 24 hours, and the deteriorating condition of the body.
According to the prosecution, Taim was shot dead at close range in the Kajla area of Jatrabari on 20 July, 2024 on the instructions of then DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, and other senior officials.
It said that while Taim lay critically injured, his friend Rahat attempted to pull him to safety from behind. At that moment, police opened fire again, forcing Rahat to retreat and leave Taim behind.
The accused have been charged with issuing orders to kill, incitement, provocation, and other acts amounting to crimes against humanity, it added.
On a prima facie assessment, the prosecution sought the framing of charges against all 11 accused.
Apart from Habibur Rahman, the other absconding accused are former DMP joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Wari zone deputy commissioner Iqbal Hossain, additional deputy commissioner Shakil Mohammad Shamim, former Demra zone ADC Md Masudur Rahman Monir, former assistant police commissioner Nahid Ferdous, former Jatrabari police inspector (operations) Wahidul Haque Mamun, unarmed sub-inspector Sazzad Uz Zaman, and Md Shahadat Ali.
On 24 December, Tribunal-2 took cognisance of the charges against the 11 accused and issued arrest warrants. The prosecution submitted the formal chargesheet on the same day.
