Probe journo torture in Madaripur

The High Court in a suo moto rule yesterday directed the inspector general of police to take steps for investigating the alleged torture on a Madaripur journalist and submit a probe report to it within 30 days.

The court ordered the IGP to assign a police official, not below the rank of superintendent of police, for conducting the probe into the torture on Shahidul Islam, the Kalkini upazila correspondent of Bangla daily Jaijaidin.

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The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain within four weeks as to why legal action should not be taken against the people responsible for torturing Shahidul.

Home secretary, IGP, deputy IGP of Dhaka range, superintendent of Madaripur police, upazila nirbahi officer of Kalkini and officer-in-charge of Kalkini Police Station have been made respondents to the rule, Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star. 

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Rezaul Haque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the rule after a report was published by Bangla daily Kaler Kantho yesterday.

The court also fixed May 14 for passing a further order on this issue.

According to the Kaler Kantho report, Shahidul was tortured on Friday when he went to Enayetnagar union to cover the union parishad election campaign.

Our Faridpur correspondent added that Shahidul was beaten up after being tied to a tree by the supporters of a chairman candidate of Purbo Enayetnagar union parishad polls, scheduled for April 16.

Rafikul Islam, general secretary of Kalkini Press Club, alleged that when Shahidul was taking photos of those who were violating the electoral code of conduct, supporters of Badal Talukdar, Awami League chairman candidate, tied him to a tree and beat him up.

On information, Kalkini police rescued him and detained two supporters of Badal, including his brother Sarwar Talukder.

Kripa Sindu Balla, officer-in-charge of Kalkini Police Station, said Delwar Talukdar, another brother of Badal, filed a case against Shahidul in connection with demanding Tk 1 lakh toll from Sarwar.

Shahidul was arrested in the case and he was later produced before a Madaripur court which sent him to jail, he said.

The police official added that they also arrested Sarwar and Najmul Khan as Shahidul filed a case against them for torturing him. The court also sent the two to jail.

Badal could not be reached over the phone.

Journalists of Madaripur Press Club yesterday formed a human chain in front of deputy commissioner's office, protesting the torture on Shahidul and demanded his release.