A mock tribunal on Wednesday strongly criticised the unlawful practice of torturing detainees by law enforcers, resulting in the persecution of innocent people, and even death, in police custody.
The symbolic “tribunal against torture” was organised by Odhikar, a rights group, in association with the European Union at the BIAM auditorium in the city.
Law enforcement personnel, in clear violation of existing laws, regularly detain people and torture them to extort cash, the tribunal observed after hearing testimonies from torture victims and their relatives.
Moni Begum, from Chittagong, narrated how she was subjected to police brutality, while the relatives of three other victims, two of whom were reportedly tortured to death, testified on their behalf.
A widow and a mother of two, Moni gave a horrific account of how the police had tortured her in custody to obtain a confession about her alleged involvement in a murder.
“They put me in handcuffs, gave me electric shocks, kicked me on the chest, back and abdomen, beat me mercilessly and burned my hands and back with cigarettes,” she said, breaking down in tears.
Now out on bail, Moni said her condition had been so serious that doctors at Sitakunda hospital refused to admit her, and she was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
Sadikun Nahar, widow of Shamim Reza who died in police custody, was barely able to talk due to weeping as she recalled the torture marks all over her husband’s body when she went to meet him in hospital.
She claimed that her husband was killed as they could not afford to pay the Tk500,000 the police had demanded.
“I can’t live under constant threat from police with my one-and-half year old daughter. I keep running from them, I remain in hiding most of the time, ever since I moved to initiate legal steps against them,” Nanar said. She urged all to look after her only daughter as she feared backlash from the police.
The jurists, after hearing the heart-wrenching testimonies, ruled that the law enforcers committed crimes under section 24, 302 and 385 of the criminal law, and they deserve stringent punishment for their offences. They are playing the role of a predator, instead of being the protector of the people, the tribunal said.
“In a society where law enforcers have turned into extortionists, where would the people turn to in times of need?” questioned Syeda Afsar Jahan, who acted as a tribunal member.
The former Supreme Court judge urged police to stick to the rules while interrogating detainees in remand.
“When law enforcers fail to abide by the law, civilised society will cease to exist,” she said.
