Family members of Shajalal, whose eyes were allegedly gouged out by police, say they have been threatened with dire consequences if they did not withdraw the case filed against Khulna's Khalishpur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) and other members of the force.
OC of Khalishpur police station Nasim Khan and 12 others, including Ansar and police personnel are accused in the case.
When contacted, OC Nasim Khan dismissed the allegations as baseless.
The family also said they have also been offered money to withdraw the case.
“We demand the quick release of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) report and the culprits should be brought to justice,” Shajalal's lawyer Ishwar Chandra Sana read out from a statement during a press conference on January 6 at the Khulna Press Club.
It was alleged that release of the final PBI report was being delayed due to pressure from police officials. Shajalal's house was also raided by police.
Shajalal sought intervention from the prime minister, home minister, inspector general of police (IGP) and other senior government officials during the press conference.
According to the complaint, Shajalal was picked up by the police and taken to Khalishpur police station on July 18, 2007. OC Nasim Khan demanded Tk150,000 from Shajalal's family for his release. As the family failed to pay the money, police took him near Khulna Bypass Road around 11:30pm on the same day and gouged out his eyes using a screwdriver.
He was found hospitalized at the Khulna Medical College Hospital by his family on July 19.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
