SHAMIM’S DEATH IN CUSTODY Father seeks judicial probe

Shamim Reza. Star file photo

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Tuesday seeking its directive on the government to form a judicial commission to probe the allegation of police torture on Narayanganj’s Shamim Reza that led to his death.

Twenty-six-year old Shamim died in police custody in Narayanganj on May 22.

Victim’s father Haji Alauddin filed the petition.

He also sought the court directive on the government to arrest four officials of Sonargaon Police Station for “torturing” his son in the custody.

The police officials are: Md Atiqur Rahman Khan, officer-in-charge of Sonargaon Police Station, Inspector (investigation) Arup Tarafder and sub inspector Paltu Ghosh and Uttam Prasham, assistant superintendent of police of Narayanganj.

Petitioner’s lawyer Advocate Eunus Ali Akond told The Daily Star that the High Court may hear the petition on Thursday.

The petitioner also prayed to the court seeking direction upon police to record the First Information Report about the allegation of torture on Shamim.

The home secretary, inspector general of police and deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, additional SP and chief judicial magistrate of Narayanganj, OC Atiqur Rahman, inspector Tarafder, SI Paltu and ASP Uttam have been made respondents in the petition.

In his petition, Alauddin claimed that the police officials had tortured Shamim in the custody instead of producing him before a magistrate in 24 hours of the arrest, which is a violation of fundamental right of the victim.

The petitioner also claimed that a departmental probe of the police has found that Shamim was tortured in the custody.

Source: The Daily Star