HC summons Bauphal ASP, OC for torturing detainee in Patuakhali

The High Court has summoned Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Saiful Islam and OC Ajam Khan Faruki of Patuakhali's Bauphal police station to explain allegations of torturing a detainee named Hafizur Rahman Bijoy in custody. The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah issued the order on Monday asking Saiful and Ajam to appear before the court on February 27. Holding a primary hearing on a writ petition filed the victim's mother Jotsna Begum, the court also instructed the inspector general of police (IGP) to investigate the incident. The writ petition was filed with an attached copy of a newspaper report published on February 14 which reported that Bijoy, who was in police custody at the time, was allegedly tortured by the ASP in the OC's room. The High Court made a ruling asking the authorities concerned to explain why torturing a detainee in custody should not be declared illegal and why legal actions should not be ordered against them. The court also issued a ruling on providing monetary compensation to the victim and asked the home secretary, IGP, deputy inspector general of police in Barisal range, additional inspector general of Dhaka, superintendent of police in Patuakhali, ASP Saiful and OC Ajam to respond to the ruling within four weeks. On February 12, Bijoy was picked up by Sub-Inspector Ferdous of Bauphal police station and was taken into custody. That night he was taken to the OC's room and allegedly tortured for an hour and a half. The newspaper report said when the local union parishad chairman contacted the OC on the phone the next day to inquire about the allegations, he claimed that he was not on the spot during the incident but had heard that the ASP gave the detainee a “mild” beating during the interrogation.