Terming it unfortunate, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday claimed that Limon Hossain had been shot in the leg accidentally when the members of Rapid Action Battalion were conducting a raid to nab a notorious criminal in Jhalakathi in 2011.
The charges against Limon were withdrawn as “it is proved that he was not involved in criminal activities,” the state minister said in response to a query.
Citing RAB’s version, he said the accident had taken place when Limon was staying close to the notorious criminal. “He was not shot intentionally.”
During operation of the law enforcers, “some innocent people become victims, and Limon is like one of them,” Asaduzzaman added.
On the seven murders in Narayanganj and bringing the responsible RAB members to book, the state minister said: “The law is not above any one. Steps will be taken as per the law whoever is responsible, no matter if they are from RAB police.”
Limon was shot allegedly at point-blank range on March 23 near his house at Saturia village under Rajapur of Jhalakathi – only a fortnight before his HSC examination. He used to work at a brick kiln to bear his educational expenses. Four days later, Limon’s leg was amputated to save his life.
Members of RAB 8 were on a drive that day to arrest members of local Mizan-Morshed gang. However, the elite force until now could not arrest any one of the criminals.
Soon after the incident, RAB filed two cases – one for possessing arms and the other for obstructing the RAB men from performing duties and attempted murder – against Limon and seven members of the gang.
Limon’s mother also filed a case against six RAB members for maiming her son, who is now studying law at Gono Bishwabidyalay. But the police in their final report termed the RAB men innocent saying that no evidence had been found against them.
Then RAB chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the incident said Limon had been an accidental victim of a shootout between RAB and criminal gangs, and that the teenager had no involvement in criminal activities.
Hasina also ordered an investigation into the RAB officers involved in the incident. However, the government “withdrew the statement within four hours, without any clarification.”
Following a Home Ministry decision of July 9 last year, a Jhalakathi court dropped charges against Limon in one case the same month. Charges in the other case were withdrawn last week.
After the court order, Limon demanded punishment of the RAB men.
Welcoming the withdrawal decision, New York-based Human Rights Watch in a statement on Tuesday demanded that those responsible for maiming Limon be brought to book.
The organisation reiterated its demand to disband RAB, which comprises members from the armed forces and the police. Formed in 2004, the elite force is blamed for hundreds of extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations.
On this, Asaduzzaman said: “The Human Rights Watch has said many things. You know the situation of Bangladesh. RAB has many successes. RAB is given responsibility when the police fail to deliver. RAB has been turned into a special force, equipped with all kinds of arms.”
He claimed that RAB had done a tremendous job in maintaining law and order. “It is not right to blame an entire force for some misdeeds.”
Asked about the BNP’s movement, he said as a political party it could organise political programmes. But destruction of properties and damaging educational institutions in the name of movement would be tackled strictly.