Police torture of Jashore student: NHRC wants to know probe updates

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) wants to know about the progress of the investigation into the allegations of torture of a college student in Jashore and damaging his kidneys by police personnel. 

The commission has also demanded exemplary punishment of those involved in the incident.

The human rights body on Wednesday applied to the senior secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs to inform the commission of the investigation progress by June 30. 

Kazi Arfan Ashiq, director (Administration and Finance), filed the application on behalf of the NHRC. 

In the letter, the commission said, "We came across a report in a daily newspaper titled "Student suffers kidney damage after being 'beaten up' by cops."

In the newspaper report, Imran Hossain, 21, a student of Kazi Nazrul Degree College of Chaugachha upazila in Jashore alleged that he was returning home from Salua Bazar in Jashore's Chaugachha upazila by easy-bike on Wednesday evening.

On the way, some policemen at Sajiali police outpost assaulted him indiscriminately and planted some cannabis on him to brand him as a 'drug peddler.'

The newspaper quoted Imran saying, "When I, along with a neighbour, reached Ambattala in front of Jashore University of Science and Technology, some police members of Sajiali outpost stopped us. Then they started searching the bag of my neighbour.

Then, he (Imran) ran towards the field being scared. The police chased him and went after him for about two kilometres. They caught him and beat him up.

He fainted. When he regained consciousness, he was taken to a nearby pharmacy.

Police said that he was arrested with cannabis in his pocket. Later, Imran's father was called to the police outpost and was told to give Tk30,000 for his release.

It is alleged that police released Imran for Tk6,000 and threatened to put him on remand if he disclosed the incident of that day to anybody.

The commission's letter further said that Imran was currently undergoing treatment at private Queen's Hospital in Jashore. Both of his kidneys are in critical condition.

Citing such police brutality as a gross violation of human rights, the commission said the achievements of the entire police force were tarnished by the unprofessional behaviour of some police personnel, which was unexpected.

The NHRC feels that exemplary legal action should be taken against those involved in this incident.