Police allegedly torture two madrasa students in Jhalokati

The injured madrasa students are – Sabbir Ahmed, 13, and Md Imran Mollah, 13, students in class VIII at Nalchhiti Islamia Fazil Madrasa. Family sources claimed that Sultan Mahmud, Nalchhiti police OC detained the students on Saturday morning from outside a girls' school on charges of eve-teasing on their way to the madrasa by bicycle. Their family claimed the OC proceeded to beat them severely on the spot. Later, he took the two to the police station where he and other policemen continued the beating. After hours of torture, the two madrasa students collapsed, alleged the families. Md Jahangir Hossain, father of Sabbir Ahmed said: “The police did not even give the boys food and water.” The OC claimed that the boys were released in the evening when the madrasa principal came to the police station and requested their release for the time being. After news of the two boys being tortured spread on Monday night, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shah Md Kamrul Huda visited Nalchhiti Upazila Health Complex where Sabbir had been admitted by his family. Sabbir’s father told the UNO about the incident and demanded punishment of the OC. Locals and right activists also demanded action against the OC. Imran Mollah’s family members also demand punishment of the OC for beating Imram and Sabbir without any reason. They alleged that the OC beat the students on allegation of sexual harassment, but the school authorities did not even file any complaint against them. Dr Abu Saleh, medical officer of Nalchhiti Upazila Health Complex, said: “The two students were injured as they had been tortured for several hours. They are also suffering from dehydration.” However, OC Sultan Mahmud denied allegations of torturing the students and claimed they were caught red-handed. Sultan Mahmud also said: “The guardians of the boys might have beaten them up for their misdeeds.” When contacted, Mufti Delowar Hossain, principal of Nalchhiti Islamia Fazil Madrasa, said: “The police officer claimed that he caught the two students during eve teasing, but the authorities of the girls' school or guardians did not complain against them.”