A Dhaka court yesterday deferred hearing on charge framing in a case filed over the alleged custodial death of Istiaq Ahmed Jony, a member of the Bihari community, in the capital.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Kamrul Hossain Molla deferred the hearing until February 14 after hearing a time petition by the prosecution.
The prosecution mentioned that they need more time as they would “put some law points and decisions” regarding charge framing in the case.
On November 18 last year, the same court sent Sub-Inspectors Kamruzzaman Mintu and Rashedul Islam to jail after they surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.
Another accused, the then sub-inspector Jahidur Rahman Khan of Pallabi police station and also the prime accused in the custodial murder of garment-waste trader Mahbubur Rahman Sujan, is also behind bars. Two accused police informants named Sumon and Russell are however on the run.
On August 7, 2014, the court ordered to conduct a judicial inquiry into the custodial death of Jony after his brother Imtiaz Hossain Rocky filed a murder case.
Following a judicial inquiry, on February 17 last year, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Maruf Hossain submitted a probe report before the court against the five accused in the case.
According to the case statement, Jony was arrested and tortured by the police as retribution for slapping informant Sumon over the teasing of girls at a wedding party at Irani Camp on February 9, 2014.
During the police torture, SI Jahid allegedly jumped on the chest of Jony, who was later declared dead at National Heart Foundation.