A Lalmonirhat man has alleged that he was physically and mentally tortured while in custody of Kotwali police station in Rangpur.
Hussain Jakir Bin Shahid Sumon on Wednesday sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through the Lalmonirhat district deputy commissioner’s office seeking justice.
Sumon and his father Md Shahidullah, who are from Lalmonirhat Sadar, later held a press conference at a private television channel’s office in the district town’s Mission More area. Sumon currently lives in Rangpur city.
According to his statement, Kotwali police station OC Rezaul Karim Reza had Sub-Inspectors Mamun and Ferdous illegally detain Sumon without warrant in any case around midnight on January 9, and tortured him. The next day, his father was also brought to the station.
Later, Sumon was reportedly threatened and forced to sign off his car, hand over Tk50,000 in cash, and Tk250,000 in cheque to the owner of Dhaka-based Computer Solutions Ltd. He was also allegedly forced to sign several non-judicial bonds.
After his release, Sumon had reportedly tried to commit suicide because of the trauma.
He had joined Computer Solutions in March 2018 as its Rangpur regional sales manager. When he resigned and sought a No Objection Certificate, the company owner refused and manipulated the police into detaining him, claimed Sumon.
However, Kotwali police OC Rezaul rejected the accusations, and said: “Sumon was not tortured. We only resolved the dispute between Computer Solutions owner Abul Hossain and Sumon and his father.”
He also claimed: “A number of local computer traders were also present at the time. Sumon is making false accusations against me.”
Reached for comment, Abul Hossain countered Sumon’s allegations, claiming Sumon had embezzled Tk47 lakh in company funds.
“He confessed to committing the crime and then compensated by signing off his car, Tk50,000 in cash and Tk250,000 in cheque. Now he is making false allegations against me,” Abul claimed.
Meanwhile, an investigation committee, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Shaidullah Kawsar, was formed after Sumon filed a written complaint with the Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner.
Sumon also alleged that to save their reputation, Kawsar sided with Reza and submitted a report that found Sumon guilty.
Kawsar denied the allegation, and claimed he submitted the report to the commissioner after properly investigating the allegations made by all parties concerned.